A five-membered aromatic compound with three nitrogen atoms fused to a benzene ring, commonly used as a corrosion inhibitor and UV stabilizer.
From 'benzo-' (benzene) + 'triazole' (five-membered ring with three nitrogens; from 'tri-' three, plus '-azole' from Latin 'azote' meaning nitrogen). Named systematically in early organic chemistry as nitrogen-containing heterocycles were discovered and synthesized.
Benzotriazole is one of the most industrially important 'helper molecules'—it's added to metal coolants to prevent rust, put in cosmetics as a UV filter, and used in photographic processes—yet most people have never heard of it despite handling products containing it almost daily.
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