mercaptan Synonyms & Antonyms
/məˈkapt(ə)n/
Choose a meaning, then find a word that fits your sentence.
Mercaptan as a Noun
1
Any of a class of organic compounds of sulphur, ( R-SH ) where R represents an alkyl or other organic substituent. They tend to be foul-smelling. They are also termed thiols or thioalcohols.
2
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.
Word Forms & Grammar
mercaptan (plural mercaptans)
Origin of Mercaptan
Borrowed from German Mercaptan, from Danish mercaptan; coined by organic chemist William Christopher Zeise in 1832 from mer(curius) (“mercury”) + captan(s) (“capturing”), because the thiolate group bonds very strongly with mercury compounds.
Quick Facts About Mercaptan
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /məˈkapt(ə)n/ |
| Meaning | Any of a class of organic compounds of sulphur, ( R-SH ) where R represents an alkyl or other organic… |
| Plural | mercaptans |