acetylene

  1. Noun.  (organic chemistry, countable) Any organic compound having one or more carbon–carbon triple bonds; an alkyne.
  2. Noun.  (organic compound, uncountable) Ethyne; the simplest alkyne, a hydrocarbon of formula HC≡CH. It is a colourless gas, with a peculiar, unpleasant odour, formerly used as an illuminating gas, but now used in welding or metallurgy.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.