butane
noun
- An alkane with four carbon atoms
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈbjuːteɪn/
noun
Etymology: PIE word *gʷṓws IUPAC nomenclature, from but- (“four carbon prefix”) + -ane (“alkane suffix”), the former is derived from the same stem as the foul-smelling carboxylic acid liberated in rancid butter, "butyric acid", hence cognate with butter.
- A hydrocarbon (either of the two isomers of C₄H₁₀, n-butane and 2-methylpropane) found in gaseous petroleum fractions.
- The n-butane isomer only.