anthracene Chem.
(ˈænθrəsiːn)
[f. Gr. ἀνθρακ- (-αξ) coal + -ene.]
a. A complex hydrocarbon, called in systematic nomenclature Para-naphthalin, obtained from coal-tar; discovered in 1832 in the heavy semifluid portion of the tar which comes over towards the close of the distillation. It belongs to the aromatic or Benzol group, has composition C14H10 = C6H2(C4H4)2 = (C6H4)2C2H2, and passes under influence of light into the isomeric paranthracene.
| 1863 Watts Dict. Chem. IV. 350 Crude commercial anthracene is distilled from an iron retort. 1873 Cooke Chemistry 325 Alizarine is manufactured on a large scale from the anthracene obtained from coal-tar. 1875 Ure Dict. Arts I. 191 Pure anthracene appears in small, well-defined, lustrous crystalline laminæ of a clear white colour. |
b. attrib. in anthracene colours, anthracene derivatives, etc. anthracene red, a name for artificial alizarine; anthracene oil (see quot. 1940).
| 1874 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. XXVII. 853 Red or anthracene oils and creasote oils. 1920 Conquest May 323/1 A final fraction above 270° C., when the anthracene oil or green oil is obtained. 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 40/1 Anthracene oil, a coal-tar fraction boiling above 270° C., consisting of anthracene, phenanthrene, chrysene, carbazole, and other hydrocarbon oils. |