Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of organic compound: A ketone is any of a class of organic compounds characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two carbon atoms within the molecular structure.

Usage

• Ketones are important in both industrial chemistry and biological processes.
• The term is used primarily in scientific contexts, such as chemistry, biochemistry, and medicine.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Acetone is the simplest and most common ketone.
  • The body produces ketones as a byproduct of fat metabolism.

Advanced Usage

• "Ketone bodies": A specific term in physiology and medicine referring to three water-soluble molecules (acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone) produced by the liver from fatty acids during periods of low food intake or carbohydrate restriction.
  • Elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood is a state known as ketosis.

Variants and Related Words

• Ketonic (adj): Of or relating to ketones.
  • The substance exhibited ketonic properties.

Synonyms

• Carbonyl compound: A broader class of organic compounds containing a carbonyl group (C=O), which includes both ketones and aldehydes.

Different Meanings

• The word "ketone" has a single, specific meaning in scientific terminology and does not have common non-scientific definitions.

Noun

1. any of a class of organic compounds having a carbonyl group linked to a carbon atom in each of two hydrocarbon radicals