petroleum-ether (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/pɪˈtroʊliəm ˈiːθər/

Meaning and Usage

Petroleum ether refers to a colorless, volatile liquid derived from petroleum, primarily composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons. It is commonly used as a solvent in laboratory settings and in the extraction of organic compounds. Petroleum ether is not to be confused with diethyl ether, a different chemical compound.

Frequency of Use: Petroleum ether is specialized terminology mainly used in scientific or technical contexts, such as chemistry or pharmacology. Its usage is less common in everyday conversation, indicating it is more frequently found in written forms, such as research papers and laboratory guidelines.

Example Sentences

1. The scientist used petroleum ether to extract the essential oils from the plant material.
   (El científico utilizó éter de petróleo para extraer los aceites esenciales de la materia vegetal.)

2. When purifying the compound, be sure to wash it with petroleum ether to remove impurities.
   (Al purificar el compuesto, asegúrate de lavarlo con éter de petróleo para eliminar impurezas.)

3. The laboratories often substitute petroleum ether for other solvents due to its low boiling point.
   (Los laboratorios a menudo sustituyen el éter de petróleo por otros disolventes debido a su bajo punto de ebullición.)

Idiomatic Expressions

While "petroleum ether" does not have widely recognized idiomatic expressions, it is important in scientific contexts. Here are a couple of phrases that utilize the concept of solvents or extraction in chemistry, though not specifically involving petroleum ether:

1. "Like oil and water" - Referring to two substances that do not mix, much like how petroleum ether does not mix with water.
   (Como el aceite y el agua - Refiriéndose a dos sustancias que no se mezclan, al igual que el éter de petróleo no se mezcla con agua.)

2. "To extract the juice" - Referring to getting the most valuable part of something, similar to how petroleum ether extracts oils.
   (Extraer el jugo - Refiriéndose a obtener la parte más valiosa de algo, similar a cómo el éter de petróleo extrae aceites.)

Etymology

The term "petroleum" is derived from the Latin words "petra" (rock) and "oleum" (oil), referring to oil that comes from rocks in the earth. The term "ether" originates from the Greek "aithēr," which means "upper air" or "pure, fresh air," historically referring to the lighter-than-air substances.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms:
- Light petroleum
- Petroleum spirit

Antonyms:
- Water (as a solvent contrast)
- Heavy oil