Definition

A colorless and toxic gas that has a strong smell, mainly used in chemical reactions to add acetyl groups to other substances.

Example

Ketene is often used in organic chemistry for acetylation reactions.

Conversation

Have you heard of ketene?

Yeah, isn't it that gas used for acetylation?

Exactly! It's pretty toxic, too, right?

For sure, you definitely have to handle it with care.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ketene is derived from the word "ketone" (from the German *Ketone*, meaning a type of organic compound) and the suffix "-ene" (indicating an alkene or unsaturated hydrocarbon). The term "ketene" refers to a specific type of unsaturated compound related to ketones.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ketone' as a type of organic compound, and remember that 'ketene' is a related unsaturated compound.

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