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chloroprene

chloroprene

9.1
A clear liquid that evaporates easily and is used to make the man-made rubber neoprene
  • noun
  • /klɔːrəˈpriːn/
  • Specialized
: cloropreno
  • The production of synthetic rubber relies heavily on chloroprene as a key ingredient.

Examples

  • During manufacturing, chloroprene is polymerized to form strong, flexible rubber.

  • A new EPA rule slashing chloroprene emissions has yet to be enforced at the Laplace plant.

  • Chloroprene is essential for creating durable materials like chloroprene for wetsuits.

Surface Forms

chloroprene singular
chloroprenes plural

Morphology

chloroprene = chloro + prene

Although 'chloro-' indicates chlorine, 'prene' is a technical combining form (not a standalone English word) and the term is a specialized chemical name, so an average B1 learner cannot derive the meaning from common English components.

Etymology

Chloroprene comes from the parts chloro- meaning 'green', as in chlorine or chlorophyll, and -prene from isoprene, a small oily substance. So the name tells you this chemical is an isoprene changed by chlorine and explains why it is used to make neoprene rubber.