Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Mercaptan
Mer-cap′tan
,Noun.
[F., fr. NL.
mercurius
mercury + L. captans
, p. pr. of captare
to seize, v. intens. fr. capere
.] (Chem.)
Any one of series of compounds having an
-SH
radical attached to a carbon atom, also considered as hydrosulphides of alcohol radicals, in composition resembling the alcohols, but containing sulphur in place of oxygen, and hence called also the sulphur alcohols
. In general, they are colorless liquids having a strong, repulsive, garlic odor. The name is specifically applied to ethyl mercaptan, C2H5SH
. So called from its avidity for mercury, and other metals.