aniline

views updated May 14 2018

an·i·line / ˈanl-ən/ • n. Chem. a colorless oily liquid, C6H5NH2, present in coal tar. It is used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, and plastics.ORIGIN: mid 19th cent.: from anil ‘indigo,'’ ultimately from Arabic an-nīl (from Sanskrit nīlī, from nīla ‘dark blue’).

aniline

views updated May 23 2018

aniline (phenylamine) Highly poisonous, colourless oily liquid (C6H5NH2) made by the reduction of nitrobenzene. It is an important starting material for making organic compounds such as drugs, explosives, and dyes. Properties: r.d. 1.02; m.p. −6.2°C (20.8°F); b.p. 184.1°C (363.4°F). See also amine

aniline

views updated May 21 2018

aniline chemical base, the source of many dyes. XIX. — G. anilin, f. anil indigo (whence orig. obtained) — F. or Pg. — Arab. an-nīl, i.e. AL-2, Arab.-Pers. nīl (cf. LILAC); see -INE5.

aniline

views updated May 09 2018

aniline (an-il-een) n. an oily compound obtained from coal tar and widely used in the preparation of dyes.

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