petroleum ether

American  

noun

1. a flammable, low-boiling hydrocarbon mixture produced by the fractional distillation of petroleum, used as a solvent.

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petroleum ether British  

noun

1. a volatile mixture of the higher alkane hydrocarbons, obtained as a fraction of petroleum and used as a solvent

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Etymology

Origin of petroleum ether

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

petroleum ether

Determine the amount of pressure applied to the floor of the drum if the petroleum ether fills the drum to its top.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

The molecularly lighter substances are given off, beginning with petroleum ether.

From Time Magazine Archive

Petroleum Ether—Redistilled petroleum ether, boiling under 75° C., shall be used.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by Thomssen, E. G.

Still, the extraction of hop-bitter acid from hops is a troublesome and thankless job, the petroleum ether taking up certain substances which add greatly to the difficulty of purifying the crystals.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 447, July 26, 1884 by Various

Test the final residue for solubility in 50 cc. petroleum ether at room temperature.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by Thomssen, E. G.