: a colorless odorless gaseous alkane C2H6 found in natural gas and used as a fuel
Examples of ethane in a Sentence
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Since 2001, the company has already flown three missions with a small spacecraft, Mira, which was first launched in 2023 with a novel propulsion system powered by non-toxic propellants, nitrous oxide and ethane.
—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
China is set to import a record volume of US ethane this month as petrochemical producers seek alternative feedstocks for their operations after the war in the Middle East choked off crucial supplies.
—
Bloomberg,
20 Apr. 2026
Not water, though—NASA’s Cassini orbiter discovered lakes of liquid methane and ethane, some bigger than Lake Superior, near Titan’s poles.
—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
10 Apr. 2026
Those plastic dunes could be used to construct surface-level habitats, and the ethane and methane lakes could power them.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
China is set to import a record volume of US ethane this month as petrochemical producers seek alternative feedstocks for their operations after the war in the Middle East choked off crucial supplies.
—
Bloomberg,
20 Apr. 2026
Not water, though—NASA’s Cassini orbiter discovered lakes of liquid methane and ethane, some bigger than Lake Superior, near Titan’s poles.
—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
10 Apr. 2026
Those plastic dunes could be used to construct surface-level habitats, and the ethane and methane lakes could power them.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ethane
Cite this Entry
“Ethane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethane. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ethane
noun
eth·ane
ˈeth-ˌān 
: a colorless odorless gas that consists of carbon and hydrogen, is found in natural gas, and is used especially as a fuel
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