Where does “alkane” come from?
Alkane derives from German Alkan, a term coined in organic chemistry whose ultimate origin and meaning remain unclear.
alkane (English): Any acyclic saturated hydrocarbon
Definitions
- Any acyclic saturated hydrocarbon
Ancestry of “alkane”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Alkan | alkane |
| 2 | German | alk- | alk |
| 3 | German | Alkyl | alkyl |
| 4 | German | Alkohol | alcohol, ethanol; alcohol, liquor |
| 5 | Medieval Latin | alcohol | powdered ore of antimony; kohl, collyrium,... |
| 6 | Arabic | كحل | antimony; kohl, stibnite; black coloring of the... |
| 7 | Arabic | كُحْل | antimony; kohl, stibnite |
| 8 | Akkadian | guḫlum | kohl, antimony paste |