Organic solvents
Organic Solvents
Organic solvents (pronunciation: /ɔːrˈɡænɪk ˈsɒlvənts/) are a type of solvent that contains carbon atoms. They are used in a variety of applications, including in the production of pharmaceuticals, paints, plastics, and rubber.
Etymology
The term "organic" in organic solvents refers to the presence of carbon in their molecular structure. The word "solvent" comes from the Latin word "solvere", which means "to loosen or dissolve".
Types of Organic Solvents
There are several types of organic solvents, including:
- Alcohols: These are organic solvents that contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group. Examples include methanol and ethanol.
- Ethers: These are organic solvents that contain an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. Examples include diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran.
- Ketones: These are organic solvents that contain a carbonyl group (C=O). Examples include acetone and methyl ethyl ketone.
- Esters: These are organic solvents that contain a carbonyl group adjacent to an ether group. Examples include ethyl acetate and butyl acetate.
Uses of Organic Solvents
Organic solvents are used in a variety of applications, including:
- Pharmaceutical industry: Organic solvents are used in the production of pharmaceuticals, such as in the extraction of active ingredients and in the formulation of medicines.
- Paint industry: Organic solvents are used in the production of paints, where they help to dissolve the pigment and binders.
- Plastic industry: Organic solvents are used in the production of plastics, where they help to dissolve the polymer and other additives.
- Rubber industry: Organic solvents are used in the production of rubber, where they help to dissolve the rubber and other additives.
Related Terms
- Solvent: A substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution.
- Pharmaceuticals: Medicinal drugs.
- Paints: A substance used to color or protect surfaces.
- Plastics: Synthetic materials made from a wide range of organic polymers.
- Rubber: A tough elastic polymeric substance made from the latex of a tropical plant or synthetically.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Organic solvents
- Wikipedia's article - Organic solvents
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski