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mercaptan |
1 definition found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Mercaptan \Mer*cap"tan\, n. [F., fr NL mercurius mercury + L. captans p. pr of captare to seize, v. intens. fr capere.] (Chem.) Any one of series of compounds, hydrosulphides of alcohol radicals, in composition resembling the alcohols, but containing sulphur in place of oxygen, and hence called also the {sulphur alcohols}. In general, they are colorless liquids having a strong, repulsive, garlic odor. The name is specifically applied to ethyl mercaptan, {C2H5SH}. So called from its avidity for mercury, and other metals.
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