terephthalic acid

American  

[ter-ef-thal-ik, ter-] / ˈtɛr ɛfˈθæl ɪk, ˌtɛr- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-insoluble solid, C 8 H 6 O 2 , the para isomer of phthalic acid: used chiefly in the manufacture of resins and textile fibers.

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terephthalic acid British  

/ ˌtɛrɛfˈθælɪk /

noun

1. a white crystalline water-insoluble carboxylic acid used in making polyester resins such as Terylene; 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid. Formula: C 6 H 4 (COOH) 2

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Etymology

Origin of terephthalic acid

First recorded in 1855–60; tere(bic) + phthalic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

terephthalic acid

Hengli eventually expanded into other textiles, including polyester, which required petroleum-based raw materials such as purified terephthalic acid that China imported from abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

At the same time, other researchers engineered microbes to metabolize terephthalic acid into a variety of small molecules, including short acids.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2023

Gary Sease, a spokesman for CSX Transportation Inc., said four of the cars believed derailed carried terephthalic acid, which is used in the production of plastics and polyester, among other things.

From Salon ● May 29, 2013

Mr. Sease said four of the ones believed to have derailed carried terephthalic acid, which is used in the production of plastics and polyester, among other things.

From New York Times ● May 29, 2013

By reducing terephthalic acid with sodium amalgam, care being taken to neutralize the caustic soda simultaneously formed by passing in carbon dioxide, Δ2.5 dihydroterephthalic acid is obtained; this results from the splitting of a para-linkage.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various