Acetones

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A class of organic compounds characterized by a carbonyl group bonded to two alkyl groups
2. Commonly used as solvents or precursors in chemical synthesis
3. Often utilized in the production of plastics, fibers, and pharmaceuticals

Etymology: "Acetones" is simply the plural of "acetone," the name for a colourless, sharp-smelling liquid used as a solvent, most familiar from nail-polish remover. The plural form is used when referring to several distinct compounds in this family. The first part of the name comes from "acetum," the Latin word for vinegar, which is the source of the "acet-" element. Acetone is related to vinegar's chemistry, and the "-one" ending was borrowed from "margarone," a name for a class of chemical compounds, though the reason for that choice is unclear. "Acetone" is a doublet of "ketone," meaning the two words share a common origin but reached English by different routes and took on different forms.

Synonyms: solvents, ketones, chemical compounds, organic solvents, volatile solvents