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Glite Dictionary
chromic acid

chromic acid

9.1
A strong unstable acid that contains chromium and reacts strongly with other chemicals
  • noun
  • /ˈkroʊmɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido crómico
  • Contact with chromic acid requires strict safety precautions due to its corrosive nature.

Examples

  • Chromic acid is commonly used as a powerful oxidizing agent in laboratory settings.

  • The cleaning solution was prepared by dissolving chromic acid in water.

  • The laboratory uses chromic acid for various experiments.

  • Is chromic acid safe to handle without protection?

  • Chromic acid is commonly used as a powerful oxidizing agent in laboratory settings.

  • Contact with chromic acid requires strict safety precautions due to its corrosive nature.

  • The cleaning solution was prepared by dissolving chromic acid in water.

Surface Forms

chromic acid singular
chromic acids plural

Morphology

chromic + acid

The adjective 'chromic' means 'pertaining to chromium', so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer that 'chromic acid' denotes an acid containing or related to chromium. While specific chemical properties (e.g. hexavalent state, instability) are technical and not predictable from the words, the basic compositional meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Chromic acid gets its name from the metal chromium because the word chromic comes from Greek 'chroma' meaning 'color', as many chromium chemicals make bright colors. So the name helps you remember it is an acid that contains chromium and is a very strong, corrosive chemical used for tough cleaning and lab work.