Acetone is a colorless, volatile solvent with a distinct, fruity odor, commonly used as a nail polish remover and industrial solvent. It is the simplest ketone, consisting of a carbonyl group attached to two methyl groups, and it evaporates quickly at room temperature. In chemistry contexts it is often referred to by its formula, (CH3)2CO.
"The lab uses acetone to clean glassware before the reaction."
"Nail technicians typically apply acetone to remove old polish."
"Acetone is highly flammable and should be stored away from heat sources."
"Some paint thinners include acetone as a primary solvent."
Acetone comes from the French acétone, ultimately from German Aceton, with roots in the chemical term ketone (from German Keton, derived from German Kohlenstoffketon, itself from carbon and ketone). The root ac- relates to acet- from acetyl, which traces to Latin acetum (vinegar) and Greek akon, via the acetyl group naming in organic chemistry in the 19th century. The -one suffix designates a ketone. First used in the 1830s in organic chemistry nomenclature, acetone was identified in distillation processes and later became widely used as a solvent in labs and industry. The term’s evolution reflects broader advances in carbonyl chemistry and solvent technology, with acetone emerging as a staple solvent by the 20th century and remaining essential in manufacturing, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical prep. By the mid-1900s, acetone was produced on an industrial scale via cumene hydroperoxide cracking and via direct oxidation of isopropyl alcohol, cementing its role in modern chemistry.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Acetone" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Acetone"
-one sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as AS-uh-tohn, with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈæsɪˌtoʊn/ in US and /ˈæsɪtəʊn/ in UK. The second syllable has a light schwa, and the final syllable rhymes with tone. You’ll want to end with a clear, voiced -n without extra nasalization. Audio reference: imagine “acetone” sounding like “ass-ih-tone” with a crisp final n. IPA guides: US /ˈæsɪˌtoʊn/, UK /ˈæsɪtəʊn/.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying “a-CET-one” or “ac-ET-one.” 2) Slurring the middle vowel into a strong schwa or full vowel; instead keep a light /ɪ/ or /ə/ between /ˈæs/ and /toʊn/. Correction: practice AS-ih-tone with clear initial /æ/. Use minimal pair: acetone vs. acetone? Not helpful. Use a reference word: ‘assets’ to gauge the /æ/ onset. 3) Final /n/ nasalization before a comma; keep final /n/ crisp.
US: /ˈæsɪˌtoʊn/, with clear /toʊn/ and a strong primary stress on the first syllable. UK: /ˈæsɪtəʊn/ with a shorter /ə/ and a longer /əʊ/ diphthong at the end. AU: /ˈæsɪtəːn/ or /ˈæsɪtəʊn/, rhoticity is non-rhotic like UK, but vowel quality may be slightly broader. The main differences are vowel durations and the final -tone vowel length; rhoticity generally does not affect the pronunciation in non-rhotic contexts.
Difficulties stem from a three-syllable structure with a light middle vowel and a final move from /ɪ/ to /toʊ/ before /n/. The stress on the first syllable makes the sequence tricky, and the final vowel as part of -tone can blur in quick speech. Also, native speakers may de-emphasize the middle schwa, producing /ˈæsɪtən/ if not careful. Focus on the /ˈæs/ onset, a light /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the middle, and a distinct /toʊn/ at the end. IPA awareness helps reinforce the contrasts.”,
Unique aspect: the final syllable '-tone' rhymes with 'phone' and 'cone' but starts after a short middle vowel. The challenge is maintaining a clear separation between the /ɪ/ (or /ə/) and the /toʊ/ glide, so you don’t merge into a single syllable. Practice with minimal pairs that contrast a close-mid front vowel before the final /toʊn/. Track your mouth position: lips relaxed, jaw lowered for /æ/ onset, tongue high for /oʊ/ glide.
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