perfluorooctane sulfonate

noun

per·​fluo·​ro·​oc·​tane sulfonate pər-ˌflȯr-ō-ˈäk-ˌtān- 

-ˌflu̇r-

variants or less commonly perfluorooctanesulfonate

: a fluorinated sulfonic acid C₈HF₁₇O₃S that is a member of the PFAS group and that has been used especially for its water and stain resistance : PFOS, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid

Perfluorooctane sulfonate is a chemical long used in Scotchgard stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam and food packaging made by 3M.

—Michael Hawthorne

… the military is the source of the contamination―largely due to discharges of firefighting foam laden with perfluorooctanesulfonate, or PFOS.

—Alexander C. Kaufman

Word History

Etymology

perfluorooctanesulfon(ic acid) + -ate entry 1

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above