isoprene

American  

[ahy-suh-preen] / ˈaɪ səˌprin /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, volatile, water-insoluble liquid, C 5 H 8 , of the terpene class, usually obtained from rubber or from oil of turpentine by pyrolysis: used chiefly in the manufacture of synthetic rubber by polymerization.

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isoprene British  

/ ˈaɪsəʊˌpriːn /

noun

1. Systematic name: methylbuta-1,3-diene.  a colourless volatile liquid with a penetrating odour: used in making synthetic rubbers. Formula: CH 2 :CHC(CH 3 ):CH 2

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isoprene Scientific  

/ ī′sə-prēn′ /

1. A colorless, volatile liquid obtained from petroleum or coal tar and occurring naturally in many plants. It is used chiefly to make synthetic rubber. The isoprene in plants occurs in the chloroplasts and is used to build terpenes and other biologically important chemicals. Chemical formula: C ₅ H ₈ .

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Etymology

Origin of isoprene

1855–60; iso- + -pr- (< ?) + -ene; see terpene

Example Sentences

They pull the isoprene up like a vacuum cleaner and transport it to an altitude of between 8 and 15 kilometers.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

That's because isoprene affects the formation of ozone, aerosols and levels of methane in the air.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2024

The rub is that the same compound, called isoprene, can also improve the quality of clean air while making plants more resistant to stressors including insects and high temperatures.

From Science Daily • Oct. 5, 2023

Although isoprene isn't inherently bad -- it actually helps plants better tolerate insect pests and high temperatures -- it can worsen air pollution by reacting with nitrogen oxides from automobiles and coal-fired power plants.

From Science Daily • Oct. 5, 2023

In July, 1910, Dr. Matthews, who had charge of the research, set some isoprene to drying over metallic sodium, a common laboratory method of freeing a liquid from the last traces of water.

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.