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terephthalic acid

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noun tere·phthal·ic acid \ˌter-ə(f)-ˈtha-lik-\

Definition of terephthalic acid

  1. :  a p-dicarboxylic acid C8H6O4 that is obtained especially by oxidation of xylene and is used chiefly in the synthesis of polyesters

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Origin and Etymology of terephthalic acid

International Scientific Vocabulary terebene, mixture of terpenes from distilled turpentine + phthalic acid

Learn More about terephthalic acid

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about terephthalic acid

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