quaternary ammonium compound

noun

, Chemistry.

1. 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.

quaternary ammonium compound

noun

1. a type of ionic compound that can be regarded as derived from ammonium compounds by replacing the hydrogen atoms with organic groups

Word History and Origins

Origin of quaternary ammonium compound¹

First recorded in 1815–25