Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Wolff-Kishner reaction

noun
Wolff-Kish·​ner reaction | \ ˈwu̇lfˈkishnə(r)-\

Definition of Wolff-Kishner reaction

: an indirect reduction of an aldehyde or ketone to the corresponding hydrocarbon by heating the hydrazone or semicarbazone derivative with an alcoholic solution of sodium ethoxide or with solid potassium hydroxide

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for Wolff-Kishner reaction

after Ludwig Wolff fl1914 and N. Kishner fl1914 German chemists

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Wolff-Kishner reaction

Share Wolff-Kishner reaction

Statistics for Wolff-Kishner reaction

Look-up Popularity

Comments on Wolff-Kishner reaction

What made you want to look up Wolff-Kishner reaction? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

imbroglio

a complex dispute or argument

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games