Definition

A clear, colorless liquid that is highly flammable and used as a solvent in various chemical processes.

Example

Tetrahydrofuran is commonly used in laboratories as a solvent for different types of reactions.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of tetrahydrofuran?

Yeah, it's that solvent used in chemistry, right?

Exactly! I read it's really useful for polymerization processes.

That's interesting! I should look into it for my next project.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tetrahydrofuran → It is formed from "tetra-" (from Greek "tetra", meaning four), "hydro-" (from Greek "hydor", meaning water or hydrogen), and "furan" (from the name of the cyclic compound furan, which is derived from the Latin "furfur", meaning bran). The word describes a compound that has four hydrogen atoms and is related to furan, a five-membered ring compound.

Memory Tip

Think of 'four' ('tetra-') hydrogen atoms combined with a structure related to 'furan', which helps you remember that 'tetrahydrofuran' is a chemical compound with these characteristics.

Visually Confused Words