tetrachlorethylene
Definition
- Noun:
- A chemical compound used as an anthelmintic: Tetrachlorethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon, specifically a colorless, nonflammable liquid. Its primary medical use is as an anthelmintic agent, meaning it is used to treat infections caused by parasitic worms, notably hookworms and other nematodes.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The doctor prescribed tetrachlorethylene for the patient's hookworm infection.
- Due to its toxicity, the use of tetrachlorethylene in medicine has declined in favor of safer alternatives.
Advanced Usage
- Industrial solvent: Beyond its medical use, tetrachlorethylene is widely used as an industrial solvent, particularly in dry cleaning and metal degreasing. In this context, it is often referred to by its common name, "perchloroethylene" or "perc."
- The dry-cleaning plant switched to a different process to reduce tetrachlorethylene emissions.
Variants and Related Words
- Perchloroethylene (PCE, perc) (n): This is the most common synonym for tetrachlorethylene, especially in industrial and environmental contexts.
- Chlorinated hydrocarbon (n): The chemical class to which tetrachlorethylene belongs.
- Anthelmintic (n/adj): A general term for a substance that expels or destroys parasitic worms.
Synonyms
- Perchloroethylene: The most direct synonym.
- Ethylene tetrachloride: An older, less common name.
Notes on Meaning
- Medical vs. Industrial Meaning: The word "tetrachlorethylene" carries two primary meanings. The first, as defined, is its use as a drug. The second, more prevalent in modern usage, is its role as a common industrial and dry-cleaning solvent. The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Noun
-
anthelmintic agent used against hookworm and other nematodes
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