azides
|a-zides|
/əˈzaɪdz/
(azide)
N3-containing anion/compound
Etymology
'azide' originates from French, specifically the word 'azide', formed from 'azote' (the French word for nitrogen) plus the chemical suffix '-ide', indicating a binary or derived compound.
'azide' was coined in the 19th century in chemistry from French 'azide' (itself formed from 'azote' + '-ide') and was adopted into English with the same form and sense referring to nitrogen-containing derivatives with the N3 group.
Initially the element of the formation emphasised the nitrogen-related origin (from 'azote'); over time 'azide' came to refer specifically to compounds or the ion containing the azide group (−N3 or N3−), often with characteristic reactivity.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of azide: compounds or ions containing the azide group (−N3) or the azide ion (N3−); often highly reactive and used in organic synthesis, as gas generators (e.g., in airbags), or in explosives.
Azides such as sodium azide are used as gas-generating agents in automobile airbags.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/07 02:34