Sulfonating: meaning, definitions and examples
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sulfonating
[ sʌlfoʊˈneɪtɪŋ ]
chemical process
Sulfonating refers to the chemical process of introducing sulfonic acid groups (-SO3H) into a molecule. This process is widely used in organic chemistry to enhance the solubility and reactivity of compounds. Sulfonation is essential in the production of detergents, dyes, and pharmaceuticals.
Synonyms
sulfation, sulfonate.
Examples of usage
- The sulfonating agent reacted with the aromatic compound.
- We performed sulfonating to increase the water solubility of the drug.
- Sulfonating the polymer improved its performance in aqueous solutions.
Etymology
The term 'sulfonate' originates from 'sulfonic acid', which is derived from 'sulfur', a chemical element known since antiquity. The '-ate' suffix indicates the presence of a specific ion or group in a chemical compound. The use of the term in chemistry began to rise in the late 19th century when the understanding of organic compounds and their functional groups advanced significantly. Researchers were exploring the manipulation of molecular structures to create compounds with desirable properties, leading to the development of sulfonation processes in various industries, particularly in the production of detergents and pharmaceuticals. As the scientific community continued to evolve, so did the applications of sulfonation, making it a fundamental reaction in synthetic organic chemistry.