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Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[Gr.

ἄνθραξ

coal.]

(Chem.)

A solid hydrocarbon,

C6H4.C2H2.C6H4

, which accompanies naphthalene in the last stages of the distillation of coal tar. Its chief use is in the artificial production of alizarin.

[Written also

anthracin

See also: anthracène

Anthracene

anthracene ‎(countable and uncountable, plural anthracenes)

(organic chemistry) A tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (an acene containing three fused rings) obtained from coal tar; used in the manufacture of wood preservatives, insecticides and the dye alizarin; it is isomeric with phenanthrene.

tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon