cumene

[ kyoo-meen ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless and toxic liquid, C 9 H 12 , soluble in alcohol: used as a solvent and in the production of phenol and acetone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cumene¹

< French cumène; cumin, -ene

Example Sentences

Cumene is a skin and eye irritant and may cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness and unconsciousness with short-term inhalation, according to the U.S.

From Seattle Times

The Texas A&M study said that the plant held up to half a million pounds of one the chemicals, cumene hydroperoxide.

From New York Times

Walter Dunn lives about 2,000 feet from Enduro’s plant, which houses up to 5,000 pounds of cumene hydroperoxide - explosive and reactive and a chemical he’d never heard of.

From Washington Times

It alleged that the air near the plant was contaminated with cumene, or isopropylbenzene, a colorless liquid used mainly to produce phenol and acetone.

From Reuters

These include a cleaning solvent called 1-bromopropane, a wood preservative mixture known as pentachlorophenol and cumene, which can be found in fuel products and even tobacco smoke.

From Scientific American