Definition

A type of chemical compound that is derived from thiocyanic acid, often found as a salt or ester, containing the group SCN.

Example

The laboratory tested the thiocyanate for its reactivity with other chemicals.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of thiocyanate?

No, what is that?

It's a chemical compound that's used in some interesting experiments.

That sounds cool! I didn't know that existed.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Thiocyanate is formed from "thio-" (from Greek "thio", meaning sulfur) and "cyanate" (from "cyan" which is derived from Greek "kyanos", meaning dark blue, and the suffix "-ate" indicating a salt or ester of an acid). The word refers to a compound containing sulfur and cyanide, often used in chemical contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sulfur' ('thio-') combined with 'cyan' (which relates to a dark blue color) to remember that thiocyanate is a compound involving sulfur and cyanide.

Visually Confused Words