How Do You Spell SELENATE?

Pronunciation: [sˈɛlənˌe͡ɪt] (IPA)

The word "Selenate" is spelled as [sɛləneɪt], with the stress on the second syllable. The phonetic transcription of this word uses symbols to represent individual sounds. The first sound is the "s" sound, followed by "ɛ" as in "bed" and "l" sound. The second syllable starts with "ə" as in "sofa", followed by the "n" sound, "eɪ" as in "day" and the "t" sound. This word refers to a salt or an ester of selenic acid and is commonly found in the chemical industry.

SELENATE Meaning and Definition

1. Selenate is a noun that refers to a class of chemical compounds containing the selenate ion (SeO4²-). It is an inorganic anion consisting of selenium in its highest oxidation state (+6) bonded to four oxygen atoms.

   Selenate compounds are typically white crystalline solids and are highly soluble in water. They are salts that can form when selenium reacts with strong oxidizing agents, such as sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide. Selenate ions possess a tetrahedral molecular geometry due to their arrangement of four oxygen atoms surrounding a central selenium atom.

   In nature, selenates can be found as minerals, often in association with selenium-rich ores or deposits. Selenates also have important applications in various industries. For instance, they are utilized in the production of glass and ceramics as colorants, or as oxidizing agents in chemical syntheses and in the treatment of wastewater. Additionally, selenates play a role in biological systems as essential micronutrients for some organisms, including plants and fungi, participating in the metabolism of selenium. However, high concentrations of selenates can be toxic to both human and animal life, leading to potential health issues such as selenosis.

   In summary, selenate is a chemical compound consisting of selenium in its highest oxidation state (+6) bonded to four oxygen atoms. It can be found as minerals, has various industrial applications, and is essential for some organisms while being toxic at high concentrations.

2. A salt of selenic acid.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for SELENATE

• selen ate

Etymology of SELENATE

The word "selenate" is derived from the element selenium, which in turn comes from the Greek word "selēnē" meaning moon. This is because selenium was discovered by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1817 and named after the Greek moon goddess Selene, due to its similarity to tellurium (named after another celestial object, Earth).

The suffix "-ate" in selenate indicates that it is a compound containing the selenium atom that has an oxidizing state of +6. The "-ate" suffix is commonly used in chemistry to indicate the presence of an anion, typically formed when an acid loses a hydrogen ion.

Plural form of SELENATE is SELENATES