quaternary ammonium compound
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noun Chemistry.
any of a class of salts derived from ammonium in which the nitrogen atom is attached to four organic groups, as in benzalkonium chloride; the salts are cationic surface-active compounds used as antiseptics and disinfectants.
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Also called quaternary ammonium salt .
Origin of quaternary ammonium compound
First recorded in 1815–25
Words nearby quaternary ammonium compound
quat., quater, quatercentenary, quatercentennial, quaternary, quaternary ammonium compound, quaternary structure, quaternate, quaternion, quaternity, Quathlamba
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for quaternary ammonium compound
quaternary ammonium compound
noun
a type of ionic compound that can be regarded as derived from ammonium compounds by replacing the hydrogen atoms with organic groups
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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