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sulfation

sulfation

1 7.9
Adding a sulfate group to a molecule that can change how it works
  • noun
  • /sʌlˈfeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
: sulfatación
  • The researchers found that sulfation can enhance the solubility of certain drugs.

Examples

  • Sulfation occurs when a sulfation group is chemically added to a compound.

  • Discussion by the authors reviewed the initial hypothesis that sulfation metabolism of acetaminophen may be somehow associated with autism diagnosis.

    Blog text (2)
  • In biochemistry, sulfation is essential for the metabolism of many steroids.

Surface Forms

sulfation singular
sulfations plural

Morphology

sulfation = sulfate (transparent) = sulfate + ation

A straightforward nominalization of the verb 'sulfate' indicating the process or result of adding a sulfate group.

Etymology

Sulfation comes from sulfur, the element behind sulfate groups, and the ending -ation meaning 'the act of'. So sulfation is the act of adding a 'sulfate' group to a molecule, which is why chemists use the word for changes in drugs and cell signals.