terephthalic acid

noun tere·phthal·ic acid \ˌter-ə(f)-ˈtha-lik-\

Definition of TEREPHTHALIC ACID

: a p-dicarboxylic acid C₈H₆O₄ that is obtained especially by oxidation of xylene and is used chiefly in the synthesis of polyesters

International Scientific Vocabulary terebene, mixture of terpenes from distilled turpentine + phthalic acid

First Known Use: 1857

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