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mercaptan

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(mər kap′tan′)

noun

any of a class of thiol compounds analogous to the alcohols, characterized by the substitution of sulfur for oxygen in the OH radical and by strong, unpleasant odors; hydrosulfide

Origin: Ger, contr. < ML mercurium captans, lit., seizing mercury < L mercurius, mercury (see mercury, n.) + captans, prp. of captare, to seize, freq. of capere: see have

See mercaptan in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A sulfur-containing organic compound with the general formula RSH where R is any radical, especially ethyl mercaptan, C₂H₅SH. Also called thiol.

Origin:

Origin: German

Origin: , from Danish

Origin: , from Medieval Latin (corpus) mercurium captāns, (a substance) seizing mercury

Origin: : mercurium

Origin: , accusative of mercurius, mercury; see mercury

Origin: + Latin captāns

Origin: , present participle of captāre, frequentative of capere, to seize; see capture

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