hexane

American  

[hek-seyn] / ˈhɛk seɪn /

noun

1. any of five isomeric hydrocarbons having the formula C 6 H 14 , of the alkane series, some of which are obtained from petroleum: used as solvents and chemical intermediates and in fuels.

---

hexane British  

/ ˈhɛkseɪn /

noun

1. a liquid alkane existing in five isomeric forms that are found in petroleum and used as solvents, esp the isomer with a straight chain of carbon atoms ( n- hexane). Formula: C 6 H 14

---

hexane Scientific  

/ hĕk′sān′ /

1. A colorless flammable liquid derived from the fractional distillation of petroleum. It is used as a solvent and in low-temperature thermometers. Hexane is the sixth member of the alkane series. Chemical formula: C ₆ H ₁₄ .

---

Etymology

Origin of hexane

First recorded in 1875–80; hex- ( def. ) + -ane

Example Sentences

Then I learned that seed oils contain little residual hexane, a mere fraction of what you inhale from car exhaust when walking along streets or roads.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2023

Railroads also ship hexane, a chemical solvent that crushers use to extract oil from soybeans, said Mike Steenhoek, executive director of Soy Transportation Coalition.

From Reuters • Sep. 13, 2022

Kimberly Terrell, a staff scientist at Tulane University’s Environmental Law Clinic, calculates Formosa’s plant would emit 95 tons of cancer-causing chemicals a year, including hexane, carbon monoxide and benzene.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2021

Also hexane, a solvent derived from oil, is typically used to extract protein from soya beans.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2019

Benzene, C6H6, evidently is like hexane, C6H14, in having a chain of six carbon atoms, but it has dropped its H's like an Englishman.

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.