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Phenol: meaning, definitions and examples

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phenol

 

[ ˈfiː.nɒl ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

chemical compound

Phenol is a colorless or white crystalline solid with a distinct medicinal smell. It is an aromatic compound and serves as a precursor to many industrial chemicals. Phenol is used in the production of plastics, resins, and other materials. It also has antiseptic properties and can be found in some household disinfectants. Due to its toxic nature, handling phenol requires careful safety precautions.

Synonyms

carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene, phenic acid.

Examples of usage

  • Phenol is used in the synthesis of Bakelite.
  • The antiseptic solution contained phenol.
  • Chemists often use phenol in their experiments.
  • An excess of phenol can be harmful to health.

Translations

Translations of the word "phenol" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fenol

🇮🇳 फिनोल

🇩🇪 Phenol

🇮🇩 fenol

🇺🇦 фенол

🇵🇱 fenol

🇯🇵 フェノール

🇫🇷 phénol

🇪🇸 fenol

🇹🇷 fenol

🇰🇷 페놀

🇸🇦 فينول

🇨🇿 fenol

🇸🇰 fenol

🇨🇳 苯酚

🇸🇮 fenol

🇮🇸 fenól

🇰🇿 фенол

🇬🇪 ფენოლი

🇦🇿 fenol

🇲🇽 fenol

Etymology

The word 'phenol' originates from the Greek word 'phaino', which means 'to show' or 'to appear', reflecting its status as a visible, identifiable compound. The term was first coined in the early 19th century as chemists began isolating compounds from coal tar. Phenol was identified as one of the key components during this research. In the late 1830s, it was first synthesized by the German chemist Auguste Laurent, who referred to it as 'carbolic acid'. The name 'phenol' became widely adopted in the late 19th century after the compound's chemical structure was better understood. It was further studied for its antiseptic properties by Joseph Lister in the 1860s, leading to its use in surgical practices. Since then, phenol has become a staple in various industrial applications, greatly influencing the chemical manufacturing landscape.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,936, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.