The mercury (3P1) photosensitized hydrogenation of ethylene has been studied at room temperature as a function of ethylene concentration, mercury concentration, and light intensity. In addition to combination and disproportionation, ethyl radicals have been shown to take part in the reaction[Formula: see text]The conditions favoring this reaction have been established and anomalous values previously found for the ratio of ethane to butane have been explained. The value obtained for the ratio of the rate constants for the disproportionation and combination of ethyl radicals, 0.15 ±.01, is in excellent agreement with the values obtained by other methods. Hexane formation is of some importance at low light intensities and high ethylene concentrations, and is adequately accounted for by the reactions[Formula: see text]