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

Using real-world samples of terephthalic acid from a discarded bottle and a coating taken from waste packaging labels, the engineered E. coli system efficiently produced adipic acid.

From Science Daily • Nov. 1, 2023

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

While one of the cars still burning late Tuesday was carrying terephthalic acid, the substance used in making plastics, another was carrying fluoroacetic acid, Hohman said.

From Salon • May 29, 2013

One of the cars still burning was carrying terephthalic acid, and another was carrying fluoroacetic acid, Chief Hohman said.

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