Twitchell reagent

noun

: any of various sulfonated products used as catalysts in the Twitchell process: such as

a

: a sulfonic acid made by condensing oleic acid with naphthalene in the presence of sulfuric acid

b

: a sulfonated petroleum product

Word History

Etymology

after E. Twitchell

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!