ketene

noun Chemistry.

1. a colorless, poisonous gas, C2H2O, irritating to the lungs, prepared from acetone or acetic acid by pyrolysis: used chiefly in the manufacture of certain commercial chemicals, as acetic anhydride and aspirin.

noun

1. a colourless irritating toxic gas used as an acetylating agent in organic synthesis. Formula: CH 2 :COAlso called: ethonone