Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical compound containing two chlorine atoms per molecule: "Dichloride" is a specific term in chemistry that refers to a binary compound where exactly two atoms of chlorine are combined with another element or radical.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ethylene dichloride is an important industrial chemical.
  • The laboratory synthesized a new metal dichloride.
  • The formula for mercury(II) dichloride is HgCl₂.

Advanced Usage

• In systematic nomenclature: In modern IUPAC naming conventions, "dichloride" is often replaced by the more precise term "dichloride" (e.g., dichloromethane) or specified with oxidation states (e.g., tin(IV) dichloride for SnCl₄, though 'tetrachloride' is more common). The term persists for well-established common names.
  • Carbon dichloride is an older name for the compound now systematically called dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂).

Variants and Related Words

• Bichloride (n): An older, synonymous term for dichloride, now less common.
  • Mercuric bichloride was once used as an antiseptic.
• Dichloro- (prefix): A combining form used in systematic chemical names to indicate the presence of two chlorine atoms.
  • 1,2-dichloroethane (ClCH₂CH₂Cl)

Synonyms

• Bichloride: (Historical/archaic synonym) A compound containing two chlorine atoms.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term "dichloride" has a single, precise meaning in scientific English. It is not used in everyday language and does not have idiomatic or phrasal verb applications. Its usage is confined to chemistry and related technical fields.

Noun

1. a compound containing two chlorine atoms per molecule