heptane
Heptane (noun) means any of nine chemical compounds with the formula C7H16, obtained from petroleum, especially the straight-chain form called n-heptane. Example: “Heptane is a hydrocarbon found in petroleum.”
How to use heptane
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA seven-carbon hydrocarbon that comes from petroleum.
It is a technical chemistry term.
The hept- in the name signals seven carbon atoms, just as hex- signals six.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ is a hydrocarbon found in petroleum.
Etymology
The word was formed from the prefix hept-, meaning seven, and the ending -ane, used for saturated hydrocarbons.