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Glite Dictionary
tetrachloroethylene

tetrachloroethylene

1 9.9
A clear chemical liquid used for dry cleaning and removing grease
  • noun
  • /ˌtɛtrəˌklɔːrəˈɛθɪliːn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tetrachloroetileno
  • The changes in the amounts of methylene chloride and tetrachloroethylene released, for example, represent the sum of many small changes by different sources.

Examples

  • One pathway for the biodegradation of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, for instance, includes the problematic compound vinyl chloride as an intermediate.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The carcinogenicity assessments for trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene were withdrawn by the EPA in 1992 for further review and evaluation (12-13).

    Academic text (1994)

  • Water samples were then taken from a number of municipal wells, and wells G and H showed high concentrations of organic compounds known to be animal carcinogens, especially trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Risk assessments for carcinogens (benzene, 2-dichloroethane, dichloromethane, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene) were formulated.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Tetrachloroethylene is commonly used in tetrachloroethylene dry cleaning processes to remove tough stains from fabric.

  • The chemical tetrachloroethylene can effectively eliminate hookworms when applied as an anthelmintic agent.

  • Due to its effectiveness as a solvent, many dry cleaning businesses rely on tetrachloroethylene for their operations.

Synonyms

tetrachlorethylene
vstetrachloroethylene
  • UK
9.6

A chemical used to clean metal parts and once used to treat worm infections

has identical meaning but is spelled in an alternate form

Surface Forms

tetrachloroethylene singular
tetrachloroethylenes plural

Morphology

tetrachloroethylene = chloroethylene (semi-transparent) = tetra + chloro + ethylene

Formed by adding the numeric prefix 'tetra-' to 'chloroethylene'; the morphological formation is regular, but interpreting it requires chemistry knowledge beyond an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Tetrachloroethylene breaks into tetra- 'four', chloro- 'chlorine', the same 'chlorine' you know from pools, and ethylene, a very small molecule made of two carbon atoms. So the name says it is ethylene with four chlorine atoms attached, which helps explain why it is a strong solvent used for cleaning.