mercaptan

[ mer-kap-tan ]
/ mərˈkæp tæn /

noun Chemistry.

any of a class of sulfur-containing compounds having the type formula RSH, in which R represents a radical, and having an extremely offensive, garlicky odor.

Origin of mercaptan

1825–35; < Latin, short for phrase corpus mercurium captāns body capturing quicksilver

Words nearby mercaptan

mercantile, mercantile agency, mercantile paper, mercantile system, mercantilism, mercaptan, mercaptide, mercapto, mercapto group, mercapto-, mercaptopurine

British Dictionary definitions for mercaptan

mercaptan
/ (mɜːˈkæptæn) /

noun

another name (not in technical usage) for thiol

Word Origin for mercaptan

C19: from German, from Medieval Latin mercurium captans, literally: seizing quicksilver

Medical definitions for mercaptan

mercaptan
[ mər-kăp′tăn′ ]

n.

Any of a class of organic compounds in which the oxygen of an alcohol has been replaced by sulfur and which have distinctive, often disagreeable, odors. thiol

Scientific definitions for mercaptan

mercaptan
[ mər-kăp′tăn′ ]

See thiol.