Definition

A type of chemical compound that contains a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, similar to alcohols but with sulfur instead of oxygen, often having strong and unpleasant smells.

Example

The chemist studied the properties of thiols to understand their effects in organic reactions.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a thiol?

Yeah, I think it's a type of compound, right?

Exactly! They can have really strong smells, too.

I remember reading about them in chemistry class.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Thiol is derived from the Greek word "thio-" (meaning sulfur) and the suffix "-ol" (indicating an alcohol or hydroxyl group). The term refers to a class of organic compounds that contain sulfur in place of oxygen in alcohols, thus linking sulfur to the structure of these compounds.

Memory Tip

Think of 'thio-' as relating to sulfur, and '-ol' as indicating a type of alcohol. This helps you remember that thiols are compounds that contain sulfur in a similar way to how alcohols contain oxygen.

Visually Confused Words