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Glite Dictionary
phenylic acid

phenylic acid

9.9
A white poisonous chemical used in factories and to kill germs
  • noun
  • /ˈfɛnɪlɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido fenílico
  • Exposure to large amounts of phenylic acid can cause severe health problems.

Examples

  • Industrial workers must handle phenylic acid with care due to its toxic nature.

  • The use of phenylic acid as a disinfectant has declined because of safety concerns.

  • The laboratory tested the effects of phenylic acid on human cells.

  • Some industrial processes use phenylic acid as a precursor.

  • Exposure to large amounts of phenylic acid can cause severe health problems.

  • Industrial workers must handle phenylic acid with care due to its toxic nature.

  • The use of phenylic acid as a disinfectant has declined because of safety concerns.

Synonyms

phenol
vsphenylic acid
  • Specialized
2 8.9

A toxic white chemical used as a disinfectant and in industry

uses a descriptive name form rather than the explicit formula label
carbolic acid
vsphenylic acid
  • Archaic
1 8.0

A toxic chemical used to kill germs and to make other chemicals, also called phenol

uses a more systematic chemical description rather than the historic name
hydroxybenzene
vsphenylic acid
  • Specialized
9.8

A toxic white chemical used to make plastics and to kill germs

is the same substance but given a different systematic name
oxybenzene
vsphenylic acid
  • Specialized
9.9

A white poisonous chemical that kills germs and helps make plastics and medicines and is harmful if swallowed

highlights the same substance but focuses on naming differences rather than use

Surface Forms

phenylic acid singular
phenylic acids plural

Morphology

phenylic + acid

The compound is compositionally built: 'phenylic' denotes relation to a phenyl/benzene group and 'acid' denotes an acidic substance, so the meaning 'an acid related to or derived from phenyl/benzene' is directly inferable from the parts. This is a technical formation following regular chemical naming patterns (common across languages), so it is transparent to a learner who knows the relevant morphological root, though it remains specialised vocabulary.

Etymology

Phenylic acid gets its name from phenyl (a part of benzene, a common chemical) and acid, so it literally means 'an acid that has a benzene part'. That image helps you remember it is an acid made from benzene and why it is a toxic industrial chemical.