ethane

noun

eth·​ane ˈe-ˌthān How to pronounce ethane (audio)
British usually
ˈē- How to pronounce ethane (audio)
: a colorless odorless gaseous alkane C2H6 found in natural gas and used as a fuel

Examples of ethane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Under the bombardment of sunlight, methane ice transforms to reactive gaseous particles that eventually fuse into larger aerosol molecules such as acetylene, ethylene and ethane. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 It’s loaded with methane and ethane and all sorts of raw petroleum compounds. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 The wet gas comprises chemicals such as butane, ethane, methane, and propane, all of which can serve as the foundation for finished goods. Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024 The combination of the slow wind speeds on Titan—a product of the moon’s thick nitrogen atmosphere—and the density and viscosity of methane and ethane mean that the average wave height would only be a few inches. Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 20 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for ethane 

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from ethyl

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethane was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near ethane

Cite this Entry

“Ethane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethane. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ethane

noun
eth·​ane ˈeth-ˌān How to pronounce ethane (audio)
: a colorless odorless gas that consists of carbon and hydrogen, is found in natural gas, and is used especially as a fuel

Medical Definition

ethane

noun
eth·​ane
ˈeth-ˌān, British ˈē-ˌthān
: a colorless odorless gaseous alkane C2H6 found in natural gas and used especially as a fuel

More from Merriam-Webster on ethane

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