para-phenylenediamine
|pa-ra-phen-y-lene-di-a-mine|
🇺🇸
/ˌpærəˌfɛnɪˈliːnˌdaɪˈæmiːn/
🇬🇧
/ˌpærəˌfɛnɪˈliːnˌdaɪˈæmɪn/
benzene ring with two opposite NH2 groups
Etymology
'para-phenylenediamine' is a compound name formed from the chemical prefix 'para-' (from Greek παρά para, meaning 'beside' or indicating opposite positions on a benzene ring) + 'phenylenediamine' (built from 'phenyl' + 'ene' + 'diamine').
'phenyl' was coined in the 19th century in relation to 'phenol' (from modern chemical nomenclature), 'di-' is from Greek meaning 'two', and 'amine' derives from 'ammonia' (late 18th–19th century chemical terminology); combining these elements in systematic organic nomenclature produced the modern compound name 'para-phenylenediamine'.
Initially the word elements described structural parts ('para-' position, 'phenyl' ring, 'diamine' = two amino groups); over time the combined term has come to denote the specific industrial chemical used as a dye intermediate and hair-dye developer, with associated health and regulatory connotations.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a synthetic organic compound (C6H4(NH2)2) in which two amino groups are attached to opposite (para) positions of a benzene ring; widely used as a developer in hair dyes and as an intermediate in dyes and polymers, and known to cause allergic contact dermatitis in some people.
Para-phenylenediamine is commonly used in permanent hair dyes, but it can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/09 23:25