A colorless, flammable gas used as fuel in lighters, camping stoves, and other applications.
From 'butane,' derived from 'butyl,' which comes from 'butyric' (relating to butter), from Latin 'butyrum' (butter). The element was named for its chemical relationship to butyric acid found in butter.
Butane is so efficient as a fuel that it literally liquefies under pressure in lighter cartridges—but the same pressurization that makes it useful also explains why aerosol inhalation is so dangerous; the gas directly freezes lung tissue.
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