tetraethyllead

Or tet·raeth·yl lead

[te-truh-eth-uhl-led]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, oily, water-insoluble, poisonous liquid, (C 2 H5 ) 4 Pb, used as an antiknock agent in gasoline.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetraethyllead¹

First recorded in 1920–25; tetraethyl + lead ²

Example Sentences

Petroleum containing tetraethyllead, a form of lead, was first sold almost 100 years ago to increase engine performance.

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In 2012 tetraethyllead generated one-tenth of Innospec’s $776 million in revenue, down from 90 percent in 2000.

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Today, sales of tetraethyllead to avgas producers account for just 3 percent of Innospec’s business.

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Annually, Innospec sells about 450,000 gallons of tetraethyllead to avgas producers.

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“There is no future for tetraethyllead.”

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