methylmercury

[ meth-uh l-mur-kyuh-ree ]
/ ˌmɛθ əlˈmɜr kyə ri /

noun Chemistry.

any of several extremely toxic organometallic compounds, Hg(CH3)2, formed from metallic mercury by the action of microorganisms and capable of entering the food chain: used as seed disinfectants.

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Origin of methylmercury

First recorded in 1915–20; methyl + mercury

Words nearby methylmercury

methylheptenone, methylic, methylidyne group, methylisobutenyl ketone, methylmalonic aciduria, methylmercury, methylmorphine, methylnaphthalene, methylol, methylparaben, methylpentose
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020