Definition

A chemical compound containing sulfur and oxygen, often used in various chemical reactions and processes.

Example

Thionyl chloride is commonly used in organic synthesis.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of thionyl?

I think I've seen it mentioned in chemistry class.

Yeah, it's related to sulfinyl compounds.

Right! Those terms can be pretty confusing sometimes.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Thionyl is derived from "thio-" (from Greek "thio", meaning sulfur) and "-yl" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a radical or a group derived from a compound). The word refers to a chemical group containing sulfur, specifically in the context of thionyl chloride, which is a compound containing sulfur and oxygen.

Memory Tip

Think of 'thio' as relating to sulfur, and remember that 'thionyl' refers to a chemical group that includes sulfur.

Visually Confused Words