pentachlorophenol
- noun
- /ˌpɛn.təˌklɔːrəˈfɪn.ɒl/
- Specialized
:
pentaclorofenol
- Pentachlorophenol is often used as a pentachlorophenol to prolong the life of timber structures.
- pentachlorophenol and creosote
Examples
-
Farmers apply pentachlorophenol as a pesticide to protect crops from harmful pests.
-
The case arose following a ship collision that resulted in a spill of approximately twelve tons of pentachlorophenol in the Mississippi River and surrounding waterways.
Academic text (1990) -
Microbes have also been found to degrade pentachlorophenol and other more complex compounds, such as the multi-ring aromatic compounds found in coal tars and creosotes.
Academic text (1991) -
Due to its toxicity, pentachlorophenol requires careful handling and disposal to avoid environmental contamination.
Surface Forms
Morphology
pentachlorophenol = chlorophenol (opaque) = penta + chloro + phenol
Formation from 'chlorophenol' by the prefix 'penta-' (five) is regular chemical naming, but it is technical and may be unfamiliar to general learners.
Etymology
The word pentachlorophenol breaks into three parts: penta- 'five', chloro- 'chlorine', and phenol 'a kind of chemical'. So the name means a phenol with five chlorine parts, which helps explain why it is a strong, toxic chemical used as a pesticide and wood preservative.
