mercaptan Hear it!

mercaptan Definition

mer·cap·tan (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

Etymology: 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

mercaptan Usage Examples

Noun used with modifier

  • ethyl: Then we made a stab at industrial-scale production of ethyl mercaptan.
Mercaptan Quotes

Mr Mercaptan went on to preach a brilliant sermon on that melancholy sexual perversion known as continence.

—Huxley, Aldous Leonard