anthracene

A scientist examines a sample of anthracene under UV light.

Definition

Noun:
- A solid aromatic hydrocarbon: "anthracene" is a white or pale yellow crystalline compound composed of three fused benzene rings. It is found in coal tar and is used in the production of dyes and organic chemicals.

Usage Examples

Advanced Usage

"anthracene oil": a fraction of coal tar containing a high concentration of anthracene, used in industrial processes.
- The distillation of coal tar yields anthracene oil, which is further refined to obtain pure anthracene. (A specific oil fraction rich in the compound.)
"anthracene derivative": a chemical compound derived from anthracene by substitution or modification.
- Many anthracene derivatives are used in the manufacture of synthetic fibres. (Substances based on the anthracene structure.)

Variants and Related Words

Anthracene-based (adj): describing materials or products that contain or are derived from anthracene.
- The laboratory developed an anthracene-based fluorescent probe for imaging. (A probe that uses the compound's properties.)
Anthracene-like (adj): resembling anthracene in structure or properties.
- The new polymer has an anthracene-like backbone. (Its molecular structure is similar.)

Synonyms

Tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon: a chemical with three fused benzene rings (a technical synonym).
Coal tar hydrocarbon: a general term for similar compounds found in coal tar.

Related Idioms

(No common idioms exist for "anthracene" as it is a technical term; however, in scientific contexts, it may appear in phrases like "the fluorescence of anthracene" or "anthracene photodimerization".)

Phrasal Verbs

(No phrasal verbs are associated with "anthracene" due to its purely scientific usage.)

Additional Information

Chemical formula: C₁₄H₁₀
Key property: Anthracene exhibits strong fluorescence (blue-violet glow) under ultraviolet light, which is used in analytical chemistry and materials science.