ac·e·tone /ˈæsɪˌtoʊn/ [as-i-tohn] a colorless, volatile, water-soluble, flammable liquid, C3H6O, usually derived by oxidation of isopropyl alcohol or by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates: used chiefly in paints and varnishes, as a general solvent, and in organic synthesis.
Also called dimethylketone.
acetone (ăs'itōn) , dimethyl ketone (dīmeth'ul kē'tōn) , or 2-propanone (prō'punōn) , CH3COCH3, colorless, flammable liquid. Acetone melts at -94.8°C and boils at 56.2°C. It is the simplest aliphatic ketone. Acetone is widely used in industry as a solvent for numerous organic substances and is a component of most paint and varnish removers. It is used in the manufacture of synthetic resins and fillers, smokeless powders (e.g., cordite), and numerous other organic compounds. Acetone is produced commercially chiefly by catalytic dehydrogenation of isopropanol.