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cyanuric acid

cyanuric acid

8.8
A white solid that protects pool chlorine from sunlight
  • noun
  • /ˌsaɪəˈnjʊərɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido cianúrico
  • Cyanuric acid is commonly added to outdoor pools to protect chlorine from sunlight degradation.

Examples

  • The technician measured the cyanuric acid levels in the pool to ensure proper chlorine stabilization.

  • Excessive cyanuric acid can interfere with effective pool sanitization.

  • Don't forget to check the cyanuric acid concentration before swimming!

  • The pool maintenance team added cyanuric acid to stabilize the chlorine levels.

  • Cyanuric acid is commonly added to outdoor pools to protect chlorine from sunlight degradation.

  • The technician measured the cyanuric acid levels in the pool to ensure proper chlorine stabilization.

  • The pool maintenance team added cyanuric acid to stabilize the chlorine levels.

Surface Forms

cyanuric acid singular

Morphology

cyanuric + acid

The modifier 'cyanuric' is a low-frequency, technical form that a B1 learner is unlikely to know, so knowing 'acid' would only suggest a chemical substance but not the specific stabilizer meaning. The term's specific, technical referent is not derivable from its parts for general learners, so it is not compositional or predictable.

Etymology

Cyanuric acid has the parts cyan (a word for 'blue') and acid, so you can picture a blue shield in the pool. People use this 'blue shield' to 'stabilize' chlorine by protecting it from the sun, so the name helps you remember its job.