Definition

A type of chemical compound that is a salt or ester derived from terephthalic acid, commonly used in making polyester materials.

Example

The company produces various products using terephthalate for its durability and strength.

Conversation

Have you heard about terephthalate and its uses in fabrics?

Yeah, I read that it's used to make polyester, right?

Exactly! It's interesting how something like terephthalate can be in so many products.

Totally! I didn't realize how important it was in the textile industry.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Terephthalate is derived from 'terephthalic acid', which comes from 'terephthalic' (from 'terephthalic acid', a compound derived from the condensation of phthalic anhydride and paraxylene). The term 'terephthalic' itself is formed from 'terephthalic' (from 'terephthalic acid', a compound used in the production of polyester) and '-ate' (a suffix used in chemistry to denote salts or esters of acids). Thus, terephthalate refers to a salt or ester derived from terephthalic acid.

Memory Tip

Think of 'terephthalic acid' as the base compound, and remember that 'terephthalate' refers to the salts or esters made from it.

Visually Confused Words