a colourless volatile liquid with a penetrating odour: used in making synthetic rubbers. Formula: CH2:CHC(CH3):CH2
Systematic name: methylbuta-1,3-diene
Word origin
C20: from iso- + pr(opyl) + -ene
isoprene in American English
(aɪsoʊˌprin; aɪsəˌprin)
noun
a colorless, volatile liquid, CH2:C(CH3)CH:CH2, prepared by the dry distillation of raw rubber or synthetically: when heated with sodium or other substances it polymerizes to form a substance closely resembling natural rubber
Word origin
coined (1860) by C. G. Williams (1829-1910), Brit chemist < iso- + propyl + -ene