Ke"tone (kē"tōn), n. [Cf.
Acetone.] (Chem.) One of a large class of organic
substances resembling the aldehydes, obtained by the distillation of
certain salts of organic acids and consisting of carbonyl (CO) united
with two hydrocarbon radicals. In general the ketones are colorless
volatile liquids having a pungent ethereal odor.
☞ The ketones are named by adding the suffix-one to
the stems of the organic acids from which they are respectively
derived; thus, acetic acid gives acetone; butyric acid,
butyrone, etc.