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Glite Dictionary
ethanediol

ethanediol

9.9
A sweet, clear, poisonous liquid people put in car radiators to stop engines freezing and to dissolve other substances
  • noun
  • /ˌiːθəˈnɛdaɪˌɔl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : etilenglicol
  • The mechanic added ethanediol to the radiator to prevent the engine from freezing in winter.

Examples

  • Due to its toxicity, ethanediol must be handled with care and kept away from children and pets.

  • In laboratories, ethanediol is often used as a solvent in certain chemical reactions.

  • The ethanediol in the antifreeze prevents the engine from freezing.

  • Many industrial applications require ethanediol for its solvent properties.

  • Due to its toxicity, ethanediol must be handled with care and kept away from children and pets.

  • In laboratories, ethanediol is often used as a solvent in certain chemical reactions.

  • The mechanic added ethanediol to the radiator to prevent the engine from freezing in winter.

Synonyms

ethylene glycol
vsethanediol
  • Specialized
3 7.0

A sweet colorless poisonous liquid used in car antifreeze and to dissolve other substances

is the same substance but presented under a different systematic name

Surface Forms

ethanediol singular
ethanediols plural

Morphology

ethanediol = ethane + diol (opaque) = ethane + diol

The word is a chemical term formed by combining 'ethane' and 'diol', but its specific meaning as a chemical compound is not transparent to learners without specialized knowledge.

Etymology

Ethanediol breaks into parts you can read: ethane shows it has two carbon atoms, and di- means 'two' while -ol is like alcohol and means 'alcohol'. So ethanediol is a small chemical with two alcohol groups, which helps explain why it is a sweet, poisonous liquid often used as antifreeze.