ACETYLENE

acetylene, ethyne, alkyne

(noun) a colorless flammable gas used chiefly in welding and in organic synthesis

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

acetylene (countable and uncountable, plural acetylenes)

(organic chemistry, countable) Any organic compound having one or more carbon–carbon triple bonds; an alkyne.

(organic compound, uncountable) Ethyne; the simplest alkyne, a hydrocarbon of formula HC≡CH. It is a colourless, odorless gas, formerly used as an illuminating gas, but now used in welding or metallurgy.

A lamp powered by acetylene, particularly a motor vehicle headlight.

Synonyms

• (IUPAC name): ethyne

Source: Wiktionary

A*cet"y*lene, n. (Chem.)

Definition: A gaseous compound of carbon and hydrogen, in the proportion of two atoms of the former to two of the latter. It is a colorless gas, with a peculiar, unpleasant odor, and is produced for use as an illuminating gas in a number of ways, but chiefly by the action of water on calcium carbide. Its light is very brilliant. Watts.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition