ethane
/'eθein/
Definition
- Noun:
- A colorless, odorless alkane gas used as fuel: Ethane is a hydrocarbon compound (C₂H₆) that is a gaseous component of natural gas and petroleum, used primarily as a fuel and as a feedstock for producing ethylene.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ethane is often separated from natural gas for industrial use.
- The plant uses ethane as a primary feedstock for plastic production.
- When burned, ethane produces heat, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
Advanced Usage
- Chemical Context: In chemistry, "ethane" specifically refers to the saturated hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C₂H₆. It is the second member of the alkane series (after methane).
- The simplest reaction of ethane is combustion, but it can also undergo cracking to form ethylene.
Variants and Related Words
- Ethyl (adj): Pertaining to or containing the ethyl group (C₂H₅-), which is derived from ethane.
- Ethyl alcohol is commonly known as ethanol.
- Ethylene (n): An important industrial chemical (C₂H₄) often produced by dehydrogenating or cracking ethane.
Synonyms
- Dimethyl (in specific chemical nomenclature contexts, though not a direct synonym in common usage).
- Alkane gas (a broader category to which ethane belongs).
Related Phrases and Compounds
- Ethane cracker: An industrial facility that processes ethane to produce ethylene.
- The new ethane cracker will significantly increase the region's petrochemical output.
- Ethane fraction: The portion of natural gas or petroleum that consists of ethane.
- The natural gas stream is cooled to separate the ethane fraction.
Related Idioms
(There are no common idioms specifically featuring the word "ethane" due to its technical nature.)
Noun
-
a colorless odorless alkane gas used as fuel
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