mercaptan Chem.
(mɜːˈkæptən)
[f. L. mercurium captans ‘catching mercury’ (see quot. 1834).]
A sulphur alcohol; any one of a series of compounds resembling the alcohols, but containing sulphur in place of oxygen.
| [1834 Zeise in Ann. Phys. & Chem. XXXI. 378 Nenne ich den vom Quecksilber aufgenommenen Stoff Mercaptum (von: Corpus mercurio aptum) und den andern Hydro-Mercaptum, oder besser..Mercaptan (d.h. Corpus mercurium captans).] 1835 R. D. Thomson's Rec. Gen. Sci. I. 110 Mercaptan when obtained pure from the mercaptide of mercury, is colourless, with a smell of assafœtida. 1865 Watts Dict. Chem., Mercaptans, sulphydrates of the alcohol-radicles. |