asphaltene

noun

as·​phal·​tene

plural -s

: any of the components of a bitumen (such as asphalt) that are soluble in carbon disulfide but not in paraffin naphtha and that are held to constitute the solid dispersed particles of the bitumen and to consist chiefly of high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons compare carbene

Word History

Etymology

French asphaltène, from asphalte asphalt + -ène -ene

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