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Glite Dictionary
ferrocyanic acid

ferrocyanic acid

9.9
An unstable white acid made from ferrocyanide salts that breaks down quickly
  • noun
  • /ˌfɛroʊˈsaɪənɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
: ácido ferrociánico
  • Researchers attempted to isolate ferrocyanic acid, but it decomposed rapidly under normal laboratory conditions.

Examples

  • The synthesis of ferrocyanic acid requires careful handling due to its instability.

  • Ferrocyanic acid is mainly of academic interest as it is derived from ferrocyanide salts.

  • The chemist studied ferrocyanic acid for its unique properties.

  • Can you explain what ferrocyanic acid is?

  • Researchers attempted to isolate ferrocyanic acid, but it decomposed rapidly under normal laboratory conditions.

  • The synthesis of ferrocyanic acid requires careful handling due to its instability.

  • Ferrocyanic acid is mainly of academic interest as it is derived from ferrocyanide salts.

Surface Forms

ferrocyanic acid singular
ferrocyanic acids plural

Morphology

ferrocyanic + acid

This is a regular modifier+noun compound: 'ferrocyanic' (relating to iron/cyanide chemistry) + 'acid' denotes an acid derived from that chemical group. Although the term is technical, its meaning is compositionally predictable for a learner who knows the modifier and 'acid' (and the roots 'ferro-' and 'cyan-'), so the expression is transparently built from its parts.

Etymology

Ferrocyanic acid comes from two parts, ferro meaning 'iron' and cyanic from 'cyan', a dark blue color from a dye used long ago. Chemists named the acid made from iron-containing cyanide salts ferrocyanic acid, so the word tells you it is an acid from those blue iron salts even though the acid itself is unstable.