vinyl chloride

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, easily liquefied, flammable, slightly water-soluble gas, C 2 H 3 Cl, having a pleasant, etherlike odor: used in the manufacture of plastics, as a refrigerant, and in the synthesis of polyvinyl chloride and other organic compounds.

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vinyl chloride British  

noun

1. a colourless flammable gaseous unsaturated compound made by the chlorination of ethylene and used as a refrigerant and in the manufacture of PVC; chloroethylene; chloroethene. Formula: CH:CHCl

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vinyl chloride Scientific  

1. A flammable gas used to make polyvinyl chloride. Chemical formula: C ₂ H ₃ Cl.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vinyl chloride

In 2003, the company accidentally released 8,000 pounds of carcinogenic vinyl chloride into Baton Rouge, according to the U.S.

From Salon ● May 10, 2026

She found that plastics contain dangerous chemicals like ethylene chloride and vinyl chloride, which Formosa was leaking into the water.

From Salon ● Dec. 5, 2024

On a Friday night in early February last year, 38 rail cars on a Norfolk Southern train derailed, 11 of which were carrying hazard materials like vinyl chloride, a chemical used to make plastics.

From New York Times ● May 23, 2024

Three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2024

The train was carrying more than 700,000 pounds of vinyl chloride, a carcinogen used to produce pipes, furniture and packaging, when it skipped the tracks.

From New York Times ● Jan. 31, 2024