Pronunciation: [ɹɪtˈɑːdənts] (IPA) 
The word "retardants" refers to substances that slow down or inhibit a chemical or physical process. The correct spelling of this word is /rɪˈtɑːdənts/, with the stress on the second syllable. The word is derived from the verb "retard", which means to delay or hinder progress. The suffix "-ant" is added to the end of the root word to form an adjective that describes something that has the ability to retard or slow down a process.
Retardants, also known as fire retardants or flame retardants, refer to chemicals or substances added to materials, products, or structures to slow down or inhibit the combustion process, reducing the risk and damage caused by fires. The primary purpose of retardants is to delay or prevent the spread of flames, providing additional time for people to evacuate safely and allowing firefighters a better opportunity to control and extinguish the fire.
Retardants typically work by interrupting and inhibiting the chemical reactions that occur during combustion. They may act by reducing the flammability of materials, forming a protective layer on the surface, diluting the concentration of combustible gases, or promoting the formation of an insulating char. Common types of retardants include additive chemicals such as bromine, chlorine, phosphorus, or nitrogen compounds, which are specially formulated to enhance the fire resistance properties of a wide range of materials.
Retardants are commonly used in various industries, including construction, electronics, automotive, and textiles, where they are incorporated into products such as building materials, electrical appliances, insulations, furniture, and clothing. These substances undergo rigorous testing and scrutiny to ensure their effectiveness, safety, and compliance with regulatory standards.
While retardants play a crucial role in fire safety, their usage also raises concerns due to potential environmental and health impacts. Some retardants have been associated with toxicity and bioaccumulation, prompting researchers and manufacturers to develop more environmentally friendly and less hazardous alternatives.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "retardants" is derived from the noun "retardant", which comes from the verb "retard". "Retard" originated from the Latin word "retardare", which means "to delay" or "to slow down". It consists of the prefix "re-", indicating backwardness or reversal, and the Latin word "tardus", meaning "slow" or "late". Thus, "retardants" refers to substances or agents that impede or slow down a particular process or action.
