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Glite Dictionary
sulfanilic acid

sulfanilic acid

9.5
A white solid chemical used mainly to make dyes and test for other chemicals
  • noun
  • /sʌlˈfænɪlɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
: ácido sulfanílico
  • Many dyes are made using sulfanilic acid as a base.

Examples

  • The presence of sulfanilic acid can be detected by its reaction with nitrites.

  • Proper handling of sulfanilic acid is necessary due to its chemical properties.

  • The laboratory ordered a fresh supply of sulfanilic acid for the synthesis experiments.

  • The laboratory produced high-quality sulfanilic acid for research.

  • Many dyes are made using sulfanilic acids as a base.

  • The laboratory ordered a fresh supply of sulfanilic acid for the synthesis experiments.

  • Proper handling of sulfanilic acid is necessary due to its chemical properties.

Surface Forms

sulfanilic acid singular
sulfanilic acids plural

Morphology

sulfanilic + acid

The noun combines the technical modifier 'sulfanilic' (a specialized chemical term) with the transparent noun 'acid', so a learner who knows 'acid' can infer this is a type of acid but cannot derive its specific chemical meaning from the modifier alone. The adjectival '-ic' pattern gives a partial cue that it names a chemical substance, but 'sulfanil-' is jargon and not predictable for a B1 learner, making the overall expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

Sulfanilic acid comes from the chemical parts behind the name: sulfa points to a sulfur-containing 'acid' group and anilic comes from the word 'aniline', the simple organic chemical it is made from. So the name literally says it is an 'aniline' with a sulfa acid group, which fits its role as an acid used in dyes and lab tests.