chloroacetic acid

American  

noun

1. a colorless, crystalline, deliquescent, water-soluble powder, C 2 H 3 ClO 2 , usually derived from acetic acid by chlorination: used chiefly in the manufacture of dyes and other organic compounds.

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chloroacetic acid British  

/ ˌklɔːrəˈsiːtɪk, ˌklɔːrəʊəˈsiːtɪk /

noun

1. a colourless crystalline soluble strong acid prepared by chlorinating acetic acid and used as an intermediate in the manufacture of many chemicals; monochloracetic acid. Formula: CH 2 ClCOOH

2. either of two related compounds: dichloracetic acid, CHCl 2 COOH, or trichloracetic acid CCl 3 COOH

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