benzalkonium chloride

[ ben-zal-koh-nee-uhm ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a white or yellowish-white, water-soluble mixture of ammonium chloride derivatives having the structure C8H10NRCl, where R is a mixture of radicals ranging from C8H17– to C18H37–, that occurs as an amorphous powder or in gelatinous lumps: used chiefly as an antiseptic and a disinfectant.

Origin of benzalkonium chloride

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Words Nearby benzalkonium chloride

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Scientific definitions for benzalkonium chloride

benzalkonium chloride

[ bĕn′zăl-kōnē-əm ]


  1. A yellow-white powder prepared in an aqueous solution and used as a detergent, fungicide, bactericide, and spermicide. Benzalkonium chloride is a mixture of the chlorides of various organic compounds having a benzene ring attached to an ammoniated alkane.

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