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Glite Dictionary
acrylic acid

acrylic acid

5.9
A clear strong-smelling liquid used to make many plastics and paints
  • noun
  • /əˈkrɪlɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido acrílico
  • Did you know that acrylic acid is often used in paints?

Examples

  • The demand for acrylic acid has increased due to its applications in superabsorbent polymers.

  • The chemist used acrylic acid to create new polymers.

  • Factories use acrylic acid to produce a wide range of acrylic plastics and paints.

  • Safety procedures are crucial when handling acrylic acid because it can cause irritation.

  • Acrylate resins are made by polymerizing acrylic acid with other monomers.

  • The laboratory technician measured 50 ml of acrylic acid for the experiment.

  • Safety precautions are essential when handling acrylic acid due to its pungent odor.

Synonyms

propenoic acid
vsacrylic acid
  • Specialized
8.4

A sour, irritating liquid used to make acrylic plastics and resins

is the common name used for the same liquid in making resins

Surface Forms

acrylic acid singular
acrylic acids plural

Morphology

acrylic + acid

The noun is compositionally transparent: it denotes an acid that is related to or derived from acrylic (i.e. acrylic resins/compounds). While detailed chemical properties are technical, a B1 learner who knows 'acrylic' (relating to acrylic material/paint/resin) and 'acid' can infer the basic meaning; similar compound naming exists across many languages.

Etymology

Acrylic acid is a simple name: it is the 'acid' that makes 'acrylic' plastics and paints. Imagine a clear liquid with a strong smell that chemists use to turn into paints and plastics, and that picture explains why the term means the liquid used to make acrylic materials today.