What does tetra- mean? Tetra- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “four.” It is used in a great many scientific and other technical terms. In chemistry, tetra- is specifically used to indicate four atoms or four groups of atoms in compounds, e.g., tetrachloride. Tetra- ultimately comes from the Greek téttares, meaning “four.” The name of the classic video game Tetris is based in part on this Greek root. Find out the rest of the story of how Tetris got its name here. The Latin word for “four” is quattor, source of the combining forms quadr-, quadra-, quadri-, and quadru-. Learn about their specific applications in our Words That Use articles for the forms. What are variants of tetra-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, tetra- becomes tetr-, as in tetracid.
1930–35; shortening of New Latin Tetragonopterus former genus name. See tetragon, -o-, -pterous
< Greek, combining form of téttara, neuter of téttares four
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O, usually divalent, but tetravalent and possibly hexavalent in oxonium and other salts; S, Se, Te, di-, tetra- and hexa-valent; Cr, di-, tri- and hexa-valent; Mo, W, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa-valent.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various
The number of NO3 groups which unite with the cellulose molecule under these conditions depends upon the temperature, pressure, etc., employed during the nitration process; di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexanitrates are all known.
From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred
Fe, Co, divalent and trivalent; Ni, divalent; Os, Ru, hexavalent and octavalent; Pd, Pt, divalent and tetravalent; Ir, tri-, tetra- and hexa-valent.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various
B, trivalent; Al, trivalent, but possibly also tetra- or penta-valent; Ga, divalent and trivalent; In, mono-, di- and tri-valent; Tl, monovalent and trivalent.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various
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