dinitrotoluene

noun

di·​ni·​tro·​toluene

"+

: any of six isomeric toxic crystalline compounds CH₃C₆H₃(NO₂)₃ formed by nitration of nitrotoluenes: such as

a

: the yellow isomer obtained as the sole first product from para-nitrotoluene and used chiefly in making dyes and explosives

called also 2,4-dinitrotoluene

b

: a commercial mixture of two or more of the isomers

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary dinitro- + toluene

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