phthalic acid

American  

noun

1. Chemistry. any of three isomeric acids having the formula C 8 H 6 O 4 , especially the ortho isomer orthophthalic acid, a colorless, crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid used chiefly in the manufacture of dyes, medicine, and perfume.

2. isophthalic acid.

3. terephthalic acid.

---

phthalic acid British  

/ ˈfθæl-, ˈθælɪk /

noun

1. a soluble colourless crystalline acid used in the synthesis of dyes and perfumes; 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid. Formula: C 6 H 4 (COOH) 2

---

phthalic acid Scientific  

/ thăl′ĭk,fthăl′- /

1. A colorless, crystalline organic acid prepared from naphthalene and used in the synthesis of dyes, perfumes, and other organic compounds. Chemical formula: C ₈ H ₆ O ₄ .

---

Etymology

Origin of phthalic acid

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Resorcinol is a phenolic derivative of benzene containing two hydroxyl groups; it is therefore related to phenol in the same way that diamidobenzene is related to aniline or phthalic acid to benzoic acid.

From Coal and What We Get from It by Meldola, Raphael

One of these compounds, phthalic acid, is obtained from naphthalene, and the other, resorcin or resorcinol, is prepared from benzene.

From Coal and What We Get from It by Meldola, Raphael

Thus benzoic acid is the carboxyl-derivative of benzene, and the phthalic acid with which we are now concerned is a dicarboxyl-derivative of benzene.

From Coal and What We Get from It by Meldola, Raphael

These discoveries necessitated the manufacture of phthalic acid and resorcinol.

From Coal and What We Get from It by Meldola, Raphael