butadiene

American  

[byoo-tuh-dahy-een, -dahy-een] / ˌbyu təˈdaɪ in, -daɪˈin /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, flammable gas, C 4 H 6 , soluble in alcohol but not in water, usually derived from butane or butene: used chiefly in the manufacture of rubber and paint, and in organic synthesis.

---

butadiene British  

/ ˌbjuːtəˈdaɪiːn /

noun

1. Systematic name: buta-1,3-diene.  a colourless easily liquefiable flammable gas that polymerizes readily and is used mainly in the manufacture of synthetic rubbers. Formula: CH 2 :CHCH:CH 2

---

butadiene Scientific  

/ byo̅o̅′tə-dī′ēn′ /

1. A colorless, highly flammable hydrocarbon obtained from petroleum and used to make synthetic rubber. Chemical formula: C ₄ H ₆ .

---

Etymology

Origin of butadiene

First recorded in 1895–1900; buta(ne) + di- ¹ + -ene

Example Sentences

It manufactured butadiene, a chemical needed to make artificial rubber, because the world’s natural rubber supply was mostly in the hands of the enemy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

"The TPC plant emitted 61,379 pounds of butadiene in 2018. Butadiene is a known human carcinogen."

From Salon • Nov. 28, 2019

If the initial concentration of butadiene is 0.200 M, what is the concentration after 10.0 min?

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Sadara will use ethane refined by Aramco nearby to make a petrochemical called butadiene to ship world-wide to facilities, likely including its Dutch plant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2016

They said the new plant would have an annual production capacity of 1,360,000 tonnes of ethylene and polyethylene and "significant quantities of propylene, benzene, butadiene and linear alpha olefins."

From Reuters • Nov. 18, 2013