cumene

[kyoo-meen]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless and toxic liquid, C 9 H 12 , soluble in alcohol: used as a solvent and in the production of phenol and acetone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cumene¹

< French cumène; cumin, -ene

Example Sentences

Cumene is a skin and eye irritant and may cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness and unconsciousness with short-term inhalation, according to the U.S.

Read more on Seattle Times

The Texas A&M study said that the plant held up to half a million pounds of one the chemicals, cumene hydroperoxide.

Read more on New York Times

Walter Dunn lives about 2,000 feet from Enduro’s plant, which houses up to 5,000 pounds of cumene hydroperoxide - explosive and reactive and a chemical he’d never heard of.

Read more on Washington Times

It alleged that the air near the plant was contaminated with cumene, or isopropylbenzene, a colorless liquid used mainly to produce phenol and acetone.

Read more on Reuters

These include a cleaning solvent called 1-bromopropane, a wood preservative mixture known as pentachlorophenol and cumene, which can be found in fuel products and even tobacco smoke.

Read more on Scientific American