ketene

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

German Ketonbor.

English ketone

English keto-

English -ene

English ketene

From keto- + -ene.

Noun

ketene (plural ketenes)

1. (organic chemistry) any of a class of unsaturated ketones, having a general formula R₁R₂C=C=O, that react as if they were inner acid anhydrides
2. (organic chemistry) the parent compound of this class, CH₂=C=O, an unstable, reactive colourless gas

Derived terms

• diketene
• ketenide
• ketenimine

Translations

of a class of unsaturated ketones

• Spanish: queteno

Anagrams

• ektene