triphenylmethane

American  

[trahy-fen-l-meth-eyn, -feen-] / traɪˌfɛn lˈmɛθ eɪn, -ˌfin- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, crystalline, solid compound containing three benzene rings, C 19 H 16 , from which many dyes are derived.

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triphenylmethane British  

/ traɪˌfiːnaɪlˈmiːθeɪn, -ˌfɛn- /

noun

1. a colourless crystalline solid used for the preparation of many dyes. Formula: (C 6 H 5 ) 3 CH

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Etymology

Origin of triphenylmethane

First recorded in 1880–85; tri- + phenyl + methane

Example Sentences

Crystal violet, a triphenylmethane dye, is used to dye ink and textiles.

From Science Daily • Oct. 10, 2023

The introduction of malachite green marks another epoch in the history of the technology of the triphenylmethane colours.

From Coal and What We Get from It by Meldola, Raphael

Trimethylaniline, triphenylmethane and mononitrophenol are a few examples which happen to occur to the memory, and they are by no means the longest or queerest-sounding.

From Marvels of Scientific Invention An Interesting Account in Non-technical Language of the Invention of Guns, Torpedoes, Submarine Mines, Up-to-date Smelting, Freezing, Colour Photography, and many other recent Discoveries of Science by Corbin, Thomas W.

The reverse series of operations was also carried out by the Fischers, triphenylmethane being nitrated, and the nitro compound then reduced to triaminotriphenylmethane or paraleucaniline, which on careful oxidation is converted into the dye-stuff.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various

E. and O. Fischer showed that these compounds were derivatives of triphenylmethane and tolyldiphenylmethane respectively.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various