Definition

Relating to a type of chemical compound that contains a carbon-to-carbon triple bond, which is a characteristic of acetylene and similar substances.

Example

The chemist synthesized an acetylenic compound for the experiment.

Conversation

I just learned about acetylenic compounds in chemistry class.

Oh really? What makes them special?

They have this unique carbon-to-carbon triple bond that’s pretty fascinating.

That’s cool! I never knew chemistry could be so interesting.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Acetylenic is derived from "acetylene" (a compound name formed from "acetyl" and "-ene"), where "acetyl" comes from the Latin "acetum" (meaning vinegar) and the suffix "-ene" indicates an unsaturated hydrocarbon. The term refers to compounds related to acetylene, which is a type of alkyne characterized by a triple bond between carbon atoms.

Memory Tip

Think of 'acetyl' relating to vinegar and '-ene' indicating a type of hydrocarbon, which helps you remember that 'acetylenic' refers to compounds associated with acetylene.

Visually Confused Words