Mercaptan Definition

mərkaptan
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.
Webster's New World

(chemistry) Any of a class of organic compounds of sulphur, (R1.S.R2); they tend to be foul-smelling. When R2 is a hydrogen atom, they are termed thiols or thioalcohols.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Mercaptan

Noun

Singular:
mercaptan
Plural:
mercaptans

Origin of Mercaptan

  • From German Mercaptan, coined from Latin mer(curius) (“mercury”) captan(s) (“capturing”).

    From Wiktionary

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