Definition

A chemical compound that is a yellowish or reddish-gray powder, used mainly in the production of dyes and for detecting blood stains.

Example

The laboratory used benzidine to test for the presence of blood on the crime scene evidence.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of benzidine?

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

Exactly! It's also used to detect blood stains.

That's interesting, I didn't know it had such practical applications.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Benzidine is formed from "benz" (from the German word "Benzol", meaning benzene) and "-idine" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a compound related to a specific structure). The word refers to a chemical compound derived from benzene, specifically used in dye manufacturing.

Memory Tip

Think of 'benz' as relating to benzene, a key component in the structure of benzidine, which is a compound used in dyes.

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