thermochromism
(θɜːməʊˈkrəʊmɪz(ə)m)
[ad. G. thermochromie (H. Stobbe 1904, in Ber. d. Deut. Chem. Ges. XXXVII. 2239), f. Gr. χρῶµα colour: see thermo- and -ism.]
The phenomenon whereby certain substances undergo a reversible change of colour or shade when heated or cooled. Also ˈthermochromy, in the same sense.
| 1911 Chem. Abstr. V. 2087 Characteristics of ‘thermo⁓chromy’. 1914 Ibid. VIII. 2387 The corresponding salts of the thiourethans..are colorless and do not exhibit thermochromism. 1960 New Scientist 2 June 1424/1 In all cases where the substance was both thermochromic and photochromic the colour formed either by heat (thermochromism) or by ultra-violet irradiation at low temperature (photochromism) was spectroscopically identical. 1963 [see photochromy c]. 1965 New Scientist 14 Jan. 102/1 Thermochromy..may well be a quite general property of solids containing trivalent chromium ions. 1974 Inorg. Chem. XIII. 2512/2 The thermo⁓chromism of these compounds involves a gradual change in color from gold to yellow to light green as the temperatures are lowered from 100° down to liquid nitrogen temperature. |
So thermoˈchromic a., of, pertaining to, or displaying thermochromism.
| 1904 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. LXXXVI. i. 672 (heading) Thermochromic properties of dibenzylidensuccinic anhydride. 1953 [see photochromic a.]. 1965 New Scientist 14 Jan. 102/1 Heating has the same effect and the higher the chromium content, the lower the temperature required for the ‘thermochromic’ transition. 1974 Inorg. Chem. XIII. 2106/1 This salt is thermochromic: green at 25° and yellow at 80°. |