The chemical compound known as Sulfanilic Acid is spelled with a "sulfa" prefix, followed by the word "anilic". The phonetic transcription of this word is /sʌlfəˌnɪlɪk ˈæsɪd/, where the "s" is pronounced as "sulfa", followed by the "anilic" sound. This acid is commonly used in the manufacturing of dyes, pigments, and pharmaceuticals. Ensuring the correct spelling of this word is important in the scientific community, as it affects the accuracy of research studies and scientific reports.
Sulfanilic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H7NO3S. It belongs to the class of aromatic amines and is a white crystalline solid. It is also known by other names such as 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid or aniline-4-sulfonic acid.
Sulfanilic acid is primarily used in the chemical industry as a precursor for the production of dyes, pigments, and other organic compounds. It acts as an intermediate in the synthesis of azo dyes, which are widely used in textiles, leather, paper, and printing industries. Its sulfonic acid group allows it to easily couple with various other compounds to produce a wide range of color shades.
The acid's ability to undergo diazotization reactions makes it an essential component in the preparation of diazo compounds, which are used as initiators in polymerization processes. Furthermore, sulfanilic acid finds applications in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food additives.
In terms of its chemical properties, sulfanilic acid is soluble in water, ethanol, and ethyl acetate, but insoluble in organic solvents such as benzene and chloroform. It is a weak acid and can form salts with alkaline substances. The compound is stable under normal conditions but can decompose upon exposure to strong oxidizing agents.
Sulfanilic acid is considered toxic when ingested or inhaled, and it can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Proper precautions should be taken while handling and storing this compound to ensure safety.
The word "sulfanilic acid" is derived from chemistry terminology. It is composed of two components: "sulfanil" and "acid".
The term "sulfanil" originates from the word "sulfanilamide", which is an organic compound with antibacterial properties. The "sulfanil" part refers to the presence of a sulfonamide functional group (-SO2NH2). In turn, "sulfanilamide" is derived from the combination of "sulfanilic acid" and "amide".
The second component, "acid", refers to the acidic nature of the compound due to the presence of a carboxylic acid group (-COOH). The term "acid" is commonly used in chemistry to denote compounds that have this specific functional group.