Chinoline

/ˈkɪnəliːn/ noun

Definition

A colorless, pungent, oily liquid aromatic compound found in coal tar, used to make dyes, disinfectants, and medicines.

Etymology

From 'chino-' (relating to quinine/cinchona) + '-line' (chemical suffix). First isolated from coal tar in the mid-1800s; named for its structural relationship to quinoline and its origins in coal tar chemistry.

Kelly Says

Chinoline was one of the first compounds to spark the synthetic dye revolution—discovering it in coal tar essentially created the modern chemical industry and let us stop using crushed bugs and plants for colors!

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