Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to halogenate

to halogenate

1 9.5
To add a chemical like chlorine or fluorine to a substance to change how it behaves
  • verb
  • /ˈhælədʒəˌneɪt/
  • Specialized
: halogenar
  • Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate that the ban on the production of chlorofluorocarbons and other halogenated compounds is resulting in decreased levels of certain greenhouse gases.
  • halogenated DNA
  • halogenated hydrocarbons
  • fully halogenated

Examples

  • Chemists often halogenate organic compounds to enhance their reactivity.

  • This is one step in the reaction the chloramine to to substitute to halogenate a long chain alcohol, OK?

  • In HL-60 cells exposed to BT, however, we did detect more halogenated DNA.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The chemicals that I avoid in upholstered furniture are halogenated flame retardants.

    Blog text (11)

  • Successful slurry-phase bioremediation has been documented for soils contaminated with halogenated organic compounds and explosives.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Manufacturers need to halogenate certain plastics to improve their performance in extreme conditions.

  • The process to halogenate water ensures the removal of harmful contaminants.

Surface Forms

halogenate infinitive
halogenated past
halogenated past participle
halogenating present participle
halogenates third person singular

Morphology

halogenate = halogen (transparent) = halogen + ate

Formed by the productive verb-forming suffix '-ate' on the noun 'halogen', meaning 'to treat with or add a halogen' is directly derivable.

Etymology

Halogenate comes from the parts hals ('salt') and -gen ('to make'), so it originally means 'salt-maker'. It is related to generate ('to make'), and that helps explain the modern meaning: to halogenate is to add a halogen such as chlorine or fluorine to a substance to form new, salt-like compounds.