Cresol. World English Historical Dictionary

Cresol. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1893, rev. 2025. Cresol

Chem. Also cressol. [f. cres- modification of initial part of creos-ote + -OL.] An aromatic alcohol of the Benzene group (C7 H8 O), occurring along with carbolic acid in coal-tar and creosote.

1

  There are three isomeric substances having this composition, distinguished as ortho-, meta-, and para-cresol.

2

1869.  Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 413. Cressol, a crystallizable solid, homologous with phenol.

3

1872.  Watts, Dict. Chem., VI. 508. The red powder known in commerce as Victoria-yellow or Aniline-orange is a nearly pure salt of dinitro-cresol.

4

  Hence Cresolene, C6H5CH3O, a product of coal-tar, related to carbolic acid, used to impregnate the air in sick-rooms, etc., with disinfecting fumes. Cresotic a. in (ortho-, para-, meta-) cresotic acid (C8 H8 O3), obtained from the corresponding cresols.

5

1863–72.  Watts, Dict. Chem., II. 106. Cresotic acid produces a deep violet colour with sesquichlorate of iron.

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