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Webster 1913 Edition


Mercaptan

Mer-cap′tan

,
Noun.
[F., fr. NL.
mercurius
mercury + L.
captans
, p. pr. of
captare
to seize, v. intens. fr.
capere
.]
(Chem.)
Any one of series of compounds having an
-SH
radical attached to a carbon atom, also considered as hydrosulphides of alcohol radicals, in composition resembling the alcohols, but containing sulphur in place of oxygen, and hence called also the
sulphur alcohols
. In general, they are colorless liquids having a strong, repulsive, garlic odor. The name is specifically applied to ethyl mercaptan,
C2H5SH
. So called from its avidity for mercury, and other metals.

Definition 2024


Mercaptan

Mercaptan

See also: mercaptan

German

Noun

Mercaptan n (genitive Mercaptans, plural Mercaptane)

  1. (organic chemistry) mercaptan

Declension

mercaptan

mercaptan

See also: Mercaptan

English

Noun

mercaptan (plural mercaptans)

  1. (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.

Translations


French

Etymology

Coined from Latin mercurium captans.

Noun

mercaptan m (plural mercaptans)

  1. (chemistry) mercaptan