quaternary ammonium compound


nounChemistry.
  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.

Origin of quaternary ammonium compound

1
First recorded in 1815–25
  • Also called quaternary ammonium salt .

Words Nearby quaternary ammonium compound

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British Dictionary definitions for quaternary ammonium compound

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

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