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; terpene

Example Sentences

The primary and most abundant molecule is isoprene.

From Science Daily

Plants worldwide are estimated to release 500 to 600 million tons of isoprene into the surrounding atmosphere each year, accounting for about half the total emissions of gaseous organic compounds from plants.

From Science Daily

So far, it was thought that the isoprene in the Amazon basin degrades rapidly and does not reach higher atmospheric layers.

From Science Daily

They are highly reactive and destroy the isoprene molecules within hours.

From Science Daily

"There are still considerable amounts of isoprene in the rainforest at night, and a substantial proportion of these molecules can be transported to higher atmospheric layers."

From Science Daily