Chloranil

/ˈklɔːrənɪl/ noun

Definition

A yellow-green crystalline compound containing chlorine, used as an oxidizing agent and in dye production.

Etymology

From chlor- (chlorine) + anil (from indigo, an ancient dye). Named for its relationship to indigo chemistry and chlorine content.

Kelly Says

Chloranil is one of chemistry's useful troublemakers—it's so reactive that chemists use it to test whether other molecules will be oxidized, but it can be dangerously unstable!

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