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Glite Dictionary
protoxide

protoxide

9.9
A chemical in which an element combines with the smallest amount of oxygen
  • noun
  • /ˈproʊtɒksaɪd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : protoxido
  • Copper protoxide is different from cupric oxide because it has less oxygen.

Examples

  • The chemist explained that a protoxide contains the lowest amount of oxygen possible for that element.

  • Iron protoxide is also known as ferrous oxide and has the formula FeO.

  • The protoxide of nitrogen is commonly used in laboratories.

  • Many protoxides are important in industrial chemistry.

  • The chemist explained that protoxide is the simplest form of an oxide containing the least amount of oxygen.

  • In laboratory experiments, researchers often use protoxide to study its reactions with various elements.

  • He learned that protoxide refers to a chemical compound where an element is combined with a minimal amount of oxygen.

Synonyms

monoxide
vsprotoxide
  • Specialized
47 7.3

A substance made of one oxygen atom and one atom of another element

combines the element with the minimal oxygen amount within a related series
oxide
vsprotoxide
  • Specialized
39 4.2

A substance made of oxygen and another element

specifies the smallest oxygen amount for the element rather than any oxygen combination

Compounds

barium protoxide
  • Specialized
9.9

A white toxic powder made of barium and oxygen used in chemistry

Surface Forms

protoxide singular
protoxides plural

Morphology

protoxide = oxide (semi-transparent) = proto + oxide

The word is built transparently from 'proto-' plus 'oxide', but the specialized chemical meaning is unlikely to be fully inferable for an average learner.

Etymology

The word protoxide comes from the prefix proto- meaning 'first', as in prototype, and oxide meaning a compound with 'oxygen'. So a protoxide is the 'first' or simplest oxide of an element, the form with the smallest amount of oxygen.