Ac"e*tone (#), n. [See Acetic.] Chem.

A volatile liquid consisting of three parts of carbon, six of hydrogen, and one of oxygen; pyroacetic spirit, -- obtained by the distillation of certain acetates, or by the destructive distillation of citric acid, starch, sugar, or gum, with quicklime.

⇒ The term in also applied to a number of bodies of similar constitution, more frequently called ketones. See Ketone.

 

© Webster 1913.