trichloroacetic acid

[trahy-klawr-oh-uh-see-tik, -set-ik, -klohr-, -klawr-, -klohr-]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a toxic, deliquescent, and colorless crystalline compound, C 2 HCl 3 O 2 , soluble in water, alcohol, and ether: used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, herbicides, and other chemicals, and as a reagent for the detection of albumin. TCA

trichloroacetic acid

/ -ˈsɛtɪk, traɪˌklɔːrəʊəˈsiːtɪk /

noun

1. a corrosive deliquescent crystalline acid with a characteristic odour, used as a veterinary astringent and antiseptic. Formula: CCl 3 COOH

trichloroacetic acid

1. A colorless, deliquescent, corrosive, crystalline compound used as a herbicide and topically as an astringent and antiseptic. Chemical formula: C ₂ Cl ₃ O ₂ H.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trichloroacetic acid¹

First recorded in 1880–85; tri- + chloro- ² + acetic acid

Example Sentences

To do so he started with a cheeky little chardonnay, treated it with ice-cold trichloroacetic acid and ethanol to precipitate any glycoproteins, then digested those glycoproteins into smaller molecules called peptides that can be analysed by mass spectroscopy.

From Economist