Sulphonate is a chemical term commonly used in organic chemistry to refer to a type of molecule containing a sulfonic acid group (-SO3H) attached to an organic group. The word is spelled with an "ph" instead of "f" because it is derived from the word "sulfur" which is spelled with a "ph" in British English. The correct IPA phonetic transcription for 'sulphonate' is /ˈsʌlfəneɪt/. The word is pronounced with an emphasis on the first syllable, followed by the '-fuh-' sound and then '-nate.'
Sulphonate is both a noun and a verb used in the field of chemistry. As a noun, sulphonate refers to a chemical compound or ion formed by the substitution of a hydrogen atom in a sulphonic acid by a metal or an organic group. Sulphonates are often used in the manufacturing of detergents, soaps, and other cleaning agents due to their excellent cleaning and emulsifying properties.
As a verb, sulphonate means to treat or combine with a sulphonate compound. This process typically involves the addition of a sulphonating agent to a molecule, resulting in the formation of a sulphonate compound. This reaction is widely employed in organic synthesis to introduce sulphonate groups into various organic molecules for diverse purposes.
Sulphonates are valued for their high solubility in water and ability to lower the surface tension of liquids, making them effective surfactants. They have the ability to bind to both polar and non-polar substances, facilitating the suspension or dispersion of dirt, oils, and other impurities, thus enhancing the cleaning power of various products. Additionally, sulphonates exhibit excellent stability even under harsh conditions, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.
In summary, sulphonate refers to a compound or ion derived from the substitution of a hydrogen atom in a sulphonic acid. It also denotes the process of treating or combining a substance with sulphonate compounds. Sulphonates are widely used in the production of detergents and cleaning agents, as well as in organic synthesis for various purposes, owing to their solubility, surfactant properties, and stability.
A salt of sulphonic acid.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "sulphonate" is derived from the term "sulphonic acid", which itself comes from the root word "sulfur" or "sulphur". The term "sulfur" originates from the Latin word "sulphur", which derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *"sulbʰro", meaning "thunder". This original meaning is thought to be connected to the sparks and noise created when sulfur comes into contact with fire. Over time, "sulphur" evolved into "sulfonic acid", and "sulphonate" was formed as the verb form of the noun "sulfonic acid" by adding the suffix "-ate", which is commonly used in chemistry to indicate the presence of an anion.