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Glite Dictionary
hydroquinone

hydroquinone

1 8.3
A chemical used to stop solutions from reacting with air, for example in labs, photography, and skin creams
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪdroʊkwɪˈnoʊn/
  • Specialized
: hidroquinona
  • The gel combines 2 percent hydroquinone with fruit acids to effectively fade dark spots over time.

Examples

  • For faster results, they can be used with hydroquinone in skin-lightening treatments.

  • Many beauty products contain hydroquinone as an active ingredient.

  • Laboratories often use hydroquinone as a stabilizer in chemical reactions.

  • The technician added hydroquinone to the solution to prevent it from oxidizing.

  • The dermatologist recommended a cream containing hydroquinone to treat the patient's dark spots.

  • The dermatologist recommended hydroquinone for skin discoloration.

  • Over-the-counter formulas that contain up to 2 percent hydroquinone may help treat mild skin discoloration.

Surface Forms

hydroquinone singular
hydroquinones plural

Morphology

hydroquinone = quinone (opaque) = hydro + quinone

The word is historically formed from hydro- + quinone, but the full meaning is a specialized chemical term that is not readily recoverable for an average B1 learner from the components alone.

Etymology

The word hydroquinone comes from hydro- 'water' and quinone, a name for a type of chemical found in dyes and medicines. So, hydroquinone is the 'water' form of that chemical, which helps it work in solutions and explains why it is used in labs, photography, and some skin creams.