[byoo-teyn, byoo-teyn] 
| a colorless, flammable gas, C4H10, a saturated aliphatic existing in two isometric forms: used chiefly in the manufacture of rubber and as fuel. |
| bu·tane (byōō'tān') n. Either of two isomers of a gaseous hydrocarbon, C4H10, produced synthetically from petroleum and used as a household fuel, refrigerant, and aerosol propellant and in the manufacture of synthetic rubber. [but(yl) + -ane.] |
butane bu·tane (by&oomacr;'tān')
n.
Either of two isomers of a gaseous hydrocarbon produced synthetically from petroleum and used as a refrigerant, and aerosol propellant and in the manufacture of synthetic rubber.
butane (by 'tān') Pronunciation Key
An organic compound found in natural gas and produced from petroleum. Butane is used as a household fuel, refrigerant, and propellant in aerosol cans. It is the fourth member of the alkane series. Chemical formula: C4H10. |
butane
either of two colourless, odourless, gaseous hydrocarbons (compounds of carbon and hydrogen), members of the series of paraffinic hydrocarbons. Their chemical formula is C4H10. The compound in which the carbon atoms are linked in a straight chain is denoted normal butane, or n-butane; the branched-chain form is isobutane. Both compounds occur in natural gas and in crude oil and are formed in large quantities in the refining of petroleum to produce gasoline.
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