Carbazole is a chemical compound commonly used in pharmaceuticals and dyes. It is spelled with a "c," followed by an "a" and "r," making the first syllable "car." The second syllable is spelled with a "b" followed by an "a" and "z," producing the "ba-zole" sound. The word is phonetically transcribed as /ˈkɑrbəzoʊl/. Carbazole's complex structure and properties make it useful in various industrial applications. As one of the indispensable building blocks of modern chemistry, carbazole is a critical component of scientific research and innovation.
Carbazole is a noun that refers to a crystalline compound which belongs to theorganic compound class called heterocyclic compounds. It consists of two fused benzene rings and a nitrogen atom, resulting in its characteristic double-ring structure. The chemical formula for carbazole is C12H9N.
In terms of physical properties, carbazole appears as white to pale yellow crystals or powder and is odorless. It has a melting point of approximately 237 degrees Celsius and is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents like benzene and alcohol.
Carbazole finds application in various industries. It acts as a starting material in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and pigments. Its unique structure and photophysical properties make it widely used as a central unit in organic electronic devices such as OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes) and photovoltaic cells. Carbazole can also be utilized as a stabilizer for explosives, as a corrosion inhibitor, and as an intermediate in the production of agrochemicals.
From a biological perspective, carbazole exhibits a range of activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. These attributes have attracted researchers to explore its potential in drug development and medicinal chemistry.
In summary, carbazole is a versatile heterocyclic compound with wide-ranging applications in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and materials science.
The word "carbazole" is derived from the combination of two separate words: "carb-" and "azole".
The term "carb-" is taken from "carbolic", which is derived from the Latin word "carbo" meaning "coal". "Carbolic" refers to compounds containing the phenol group in their chemical structure.
"Azole" is a suffix used in chemistry to describe a class of organic compounds that contain a five-membered ring with at least one nitrogen atom. The term "azole" originates from the German word "Azol", which was coined by the German chemist Heinrich Debus in the mid-19th century.
Therefore, the term "carbazole" combines the "carb-" prefix to indicate the carbolic or phenolic nature of the compound, along with the "azole" suffix to indicate the presence of the five-membered ring.