anthracene
nounEtymology Borrowed from French anthracène, coined by its co-discoverer Auguste Laurent in 1837, from Ancient Greek ἄνθραξ (ánthrax, “coal”) + -ene. By surface analysis, anthrac- + -ene.
1
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Organic chemistry, Physical sciences A tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (an acene containing three fused rings) obtained from coal tar; used in the manufacture of wood preservatives, insecticides and the dye alizarin; it is isomeric with phenanthrene.
- Derived terms
- anthrapyrazole, benzanthracene, benzoanthracene, circumanthracene, diazaanthracene, haloanthracene, paranthracene, polyanthracene
- Related terms
- anthracite
- Hypernyms
- acene
- Coordinate terms
- benzene, naphthalene