nitrocellulose

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Explanation of "Nitrocellulose"

Definition: "Nitrocellulose" is a noun that refers to a chemical compound created by treating cellulose (a substance found in plants) with nitric acid. It is primarily used in making lacquers (a type of glossy paint) and explosives.

Usage Instructions:

• When to Use: You would use the word "nitrocellulose" when discussing topics related to chemistry, materials used in manufacturing, or explosives. It is a technical term, so it’s more common in scientific contexts rather than everyday conversation.
• Example Sentence: "The artist preferred using nitrocellulose lacquer for her paintings because it dries quickly and gives a shiny finish."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might encounter nitrocellulose in the context of historical or industrial applications. For example, it was widely used in the 19th century for making film stock in photography and in the production of certain types of ammunition.

Word Variants:

• Nitrocellulosic (adjective): This describes something that is related to or contains nitrocellulose. For example, "The nitrocellulosic film was famous for its high clarity."

Different Meanings:

While "nitrocellulose" primarily has a specific meaning in chemistry and material science, it does not have significantly different meanings in everyday use. It remains focused on its definition related to cellulose and its uses.

Synonyms:

There are no direct synonyms for "nitrocellulose," as it is a specific chemical compound. However, in different contexts, you might refer to it by its uses: - Lacquer (when focusing on its use in paints) - Explosive (when discussing its use in munitions)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no idioms or phrasal verbs that relate specifically to "nitrocellulose." However, you might encounter phrases like "going off like a firecracker" when discussing explosives in a more casual context, but this is not directly related to nitrocellulose.

Summary:

"Nitrocellulose" is a specialized term referring to a chemical compound used in various industrial applications, especially in making lacquers and explosives.

Academic

Noun

1. a nitric acid ester; used in lacquers and explosives

Synonyms

• cellulose nitrate
• guncotton
• nitrocotton