acetamide
- noun
- /əˈsɛtəˌmaɪd/
- Specialized
- The researchers added acetamide to the solution to improve solubility.
Examples
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Acetamide is often used as a solvent in chemical reactions.
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In the laboratory, we synthesized a new compound using acetamide.
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Acetamide, aniline, arsenic compounds
Academic text (2004)
Synonyms
A colorless solid chemical used as a solvent and in making other organic compounds
Surface Forms
Morphology
acetamide = amide (opaque) = acet + amide
The term is a technical chemical name formed from the combining form 'acet-' (not a standalone English word) plus the chemical noun 'amide', so an average learner cannot derive its meaning from familiar English words.
Etymology
The word acetamide comes from acetic (from 'the acid in vinegar') and amide (from 'ammonia', showing it is a chemical related to ammonia). So acetamide is the form of acetic acid made with ammonia, which explains why it is a small, colorless chemical used as a solvent and to make other compounds.