Definition

A solid, crystalline substance made of carbon, derived from coal tar, that is used to create dyes and other organic chemicals.

Example

Anthracene is often used in the production of blue and green dyes.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of anthracene?

Yeah, I think it's used in making dyes, right?

Exactly! It's pretty interesting how it's extracted from coal tar.

Totally! I love learning about the chemistry behind these compounds.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Anthracene is formed from "anthracos" (from Greek, meaning coal) and "-ene" (a suffix used in organic chemistry to denote unsaturated hydrocarbons). The word refers to a compound derived from coal, specifically a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

Memory Tip

Think of 'coal' ('anthracos') when remembering that 'anthracene' is a compound derived from coal.

Visually Confused Words