A positively charged chemical ion containing sulfur and nitrogen, used in synthetic organic chemistry.
From 'az-' (nitrogen) combined with 'thio-' (sulfur) and the ionic suffix '-ium.' The Greek roots 'azote' (nitrogen) and 'theion' (sulfur) reflect the 18th-century naming conventions for elements.
Azthionium ions are so reactive that chemists use them as temporary chemical 'glues' in complex synthesis—they help attach molecules together precisely, then disappear, leaving the desired product behind.
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