mesityl oxide

American

[mez-i-til, mes-] / ˈmɛz ɪ tɪl, ˈmɛs- /

noun

Chemistry.

an oily, colorless liquid, C 6 H 1 0 O, having a honeylike odor: used chiefly as a solvent and in the manufacture of synthetic organic compounds.

Etymology

Origin of mesityl oxide

1870–75; mesityl < New Latin mesīt ( a ) (< Greek mesī́tēs mediator, go-between, equivalent to mes- mes- + -ītēs -ite ¹ ) + -yl

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

About 5,700 lbs. of a mixture containing mesityl oxide escaped when an excessive amount of steam built up in a distillation tank.

From Time Magazine Archive

By the action of various reagents such as lime, caustic potash, hydrochloric acid, &c., acetone is converted into condensation products, mesityl oxide C6H10O, phorone C9H14O, &c., being formed.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023