: a colorless odorless gaseous alkane C2H6 found in natural gas and used as a fuel
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Natural gas powers much of the world, but its core components, methane, ethane, and propane, have resisted direct conversion into useful chemicals.
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Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Nov. 2025
On the other hand, methane and ethane, which are both hydrocarbon compounds (i.e. they are formed of atoms of hydrogen and carbon) are non-polar molecules, meaning that their electric charge is symmetrical, with both positive and negative charges on each side of their molecular structure.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Instead of tankers carrying natural gas liquids, including ethane, butane and propane, through the canal, the NGLs would travel through a 76-kilometer pipeline connecting the Atlantic and Pacific ports.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Shortly before the July 4th holiday, US Commerce officials notified major ethane producers the export controls had been rescinded.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025
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Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Nov. 2025
On the other hand, methane and ethane, which are both hydrocarbon compounds (i.e. they are formed of atoms of hydrogen and carbon) are non-polar molecules, meaning that their electric charge is symmetrical, with both positive and negative charges on each side of their molecular structure.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Instead of tankers carrying natural gas liquids, including ethane, butane and propane, through the canal, the NGLs would travel through a 76-kilometer pipeline connecting the Atlantic and Pacific ports.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Shortly before the July 4th holiday, US Commerce officials notified major ethane producers the export controls had been rescinded.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ethane
Cite this Entry
“Ethane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethane. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
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ethane
noun
eth·ane
ˈeth-ˌān 
: a colorless odorless gas that consists of carbon and hydrogen, is found in natural gas, and is used especially as a fuel
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