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🔥 A solid fuel 🥫 A food preservative 💊 A urinary antiseptic
hexamethylenetetramine

hexamethylenetetramine

9.9
A chemical used to preserve food and stop bacteria from growing
  • noun
  • /ˌhɛksəˌmɛθɪlɪnˈtɛtrəˌmiːn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hexametilentetramina
  • Some manufacturers used hexamethylenetetramine to preserve canned meat and prevent bacterial growth.

Examples

  • Regulations limit the amount of hexamethylenetetramine allowed in certain food products.

  • Many food products contain hexamethylenetetramine as a preservative.

  • The laboratory ordered more hexamethylenetetramine for use in chemical experiments.

  • The laboratory tested the hexamethylenetetramine for purity.

  • Many food manufacturers use hexamethylenetetramine as a preservative to extend the shelf life of their products.

  • The food safety agency reported that hexamethylenetetramine is effective in preventing spoilage and bacterial contamination.

  • You can find hexamethylenetetramine in various processed foods to help prevent microbial growth.

Synonyms

sodium benzoate
vshexamethylenetetramine
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A white salt added to food to stop it going bad

is used in both foods and industrial products

Surface Forms

hexamethylenetetramine singular
hexamethylenetetramines plural

Morphology

hexamethylenetetramine = hexamethylene + tetramine (opaque) = hexamethylene + tetramine

The term is a specialised chemical name formed from numeric and functional combining forms; its meaning is not inferable by an average B1 learner without chemistry knowledge.

Etymology

Hexamethylenetetramine breaks into clear parts: hexa- 'six', methylene 'a small chemical link', and tetramine 'four nitrogen parts'. A helpful way to remember it is that the name describes the chemical pieces of the molecule, which is why this long-named compound is used as a preservative and to prevent bacterial growth in foods and industrial products.