butane

Etymology

IUPAC nomenclature, from but- (“four carbon prefix”) + -ane (“alkane suffix”), the former is derived from the same stem as the foul-smelling carboxylic acid liberated in rancid butter, "butyric acid", hence cognate with butter.

noun

  1. (organic chemistry) A hydrocarbon (either of the two isomers of C₄H₁₀ n-butane, and 2-methyl-propane) found in gaseous petroleum fractions.
  2. (organic chemistry, uncountable) The n-butane isomer only.

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