asphaltene

[ as-fawl-teen or, esp. British, -fal- ]
/ æsˈfɔl tin or, esp. British, -ˈfæl- /

noun Chemistry.

any of the constituents of a bitumen, as asphalt, that are insoluble in pentane, hexane, or naphthalene.
Compare petrolene.

Origin of asphaltene

First recorded in 1830–40; asphalt + -ene

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