quaternary ammonium compound
- noun
- /kwəˈtɜrnəri əˈmɒnyəm ˈkəmˌpaʊnd/
- Specialized
:
compuesto de amonio cuaternario
- Bacterial counts were reduced substantially for all three organisms by wipes containing either 70% isopropyl alcohol, 1.84% sodium hypochlorite, or quaternary ammonium compounds.
- quaternary ammonium compounds and sodium
Examples
-
Disinfectants were chosen that contained quaternary ammonium compounds, alcohol, or sodium hypochlorite, chemicals that are found in common cleaning agents.
Academic text (2009) -
Disinfectants were chosen that contained quaternary ammonium compounds, alcohol, or sodium hypochlorite.
Academic text (2009) -
Quaternary ammonium compounds: 0.4 to 1.6%; B*, V*, F; inexpensive; inactivated by organic matter, limited efficacy.
Academic text (1994) -
The cleaning solution included quaternary ammonium compounds known for their disinfectant properties.
-
Many hospitals use quaternary ammonium compounds to sterilize surfaces and equipment.
-
You can find quaternary ammonium compounds in various household cleaners for effective germ killing.
Synonyms
A cleaning product used on surfaces and equipment to kill bacteria
How Substituted
- Specialized
- Specialized
18
7.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
quaternary + ammonium + compound
The constituent meanings ('quaternary' = fourfold, 'ammonium' = NH4⁺ ion, 'compound' = chemical substance) give a clear clue that this is a chemical related to ammonium involving 'four' parts, so a B1 learner could infer it is a type of ammonium-containing substance. However, the precise structural meaning (replacement of all four hydrogens with organic groups) and its typical functional implications (disinfectant/surfactant use) require specialist chemistry knowledge, so the relation is only partially predictable.
Etymology
The noun quaternary ammonium compound comes from a simple image: ammonium is a nitrogen atom with four hydrogens, and quaternary means 'four', so all four hydrogens are replaced by other groups. Because of this change, these compounds often act as 'disinfectants' and help mix oil and water, which is why they are used in cleaners and some medicines.