ketene
[ kee-teen ]
/ ˈki tin /
noun Chemistry.
a colorless, poisonous gas, C2H2O, irritating to the lungs, prepared from acetone or acetic acid by pyrolysis: used chiefly in the manufacture of certain commercial chemicals, as acetic anhydride and aspirin.
Words nearby ketene
ketch,
ketch-rigged,
ketchikan,
ketchup,
kete,
ketene,
keto,
keto acid,
keto form,
keto-,
keto-enol tautomerism
British Dictionary definitions for ketene
ketene
/ (ˈkiːtiːn, ˈkɛt-) /
noun
a colourless irritating toxic gas used as an acetylating agent in organic synthesis. Formula: CH 2 :CO
Also called: ethonone