Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
thiourea

thiourea

1 9.6
A chemical used in labs and factories that contains sulfur
  • noun
  • /θaɪˈʊəriə/
  • Specialized
: tiourea
  • The production of certain plastics involves the use of thiourea as a key ingredient.

Examples

  • Researchers often use thiourea in laboratory experiments to study its chemical properties.

  • And this is this is a Technetium Hexacus thiourea species.

  • In the chemical industry, thiourea is employed to promote reactions that reduce harmful substances.

Surface Forms

thiourea singular
thioureas plural

Morphology

thiourea = urea (semi-transparent) = thio + urea + thio

Formed by the chemical combining form 'thio-' (sulfur) + 'urea'; the structure is regular but 'thio-' is a technical combining form unfamiliar to average B1 learners.

Etymology

Thiourea combines the prefix thio- meaning 'sulfur' and urea, a common chemical found in fertilizers and lab work. So thiourea literally means 'sulfur urea', which helps you remember it is a urea-like chemical that contains sulfur and is used in laboratories and industry.