Hexane

/ˈhɛkseɪn/ noun

Definition

A colorless liquid hydrocarbon with six carbon atoms, commonly used as a solvent in laboratories and industry.

Etymology

From 'hex-' (six, from Greek) + '-ane' (the suffix for saturated hydrocarbons). The name systematically indicates it's a six-carbon alkane with no rings or double bonds.

Kelly Says

Hexane is the reason peanut butter is sometimes so perfectly smooth—food manufacturers use it to extract oil from peanuts, then it evaporates completely, leaving behind creamy fat but none of the solvent residue.

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