Ketone

Description

An homologous series of organic compounds that has a carbonyl group C=O in the middle of two alkyl groups. An example is acetone, CH3COCH3. Ketones are generally liquids and are used as solvents in varnishes and paints. See acetone, dimethyl ketone, and methyl ethyl ketone.

Authority

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998