phenanthrene

[ fuh-nan-threen ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, shiny, crystalline, water-insoluble isomer of anthracene, C 1 4 H 1 0 , derived from coal tar: used chiefly in dyestuffs and in the synthesis of drugs.

phenanthrene

/ fɪˈnænθriːn /

noun

1. a colourless crystalline aromatic compound isomeric with anthracene: used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, and explosives. Formula: C 14 H 10

phenanthrene

/ fə-năn′thrēn′ /

1. A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon obtained by fractional distillation of coal-tar oils and used in dyes, drugs, and explosives. Phenanthrene is an isomer of anthracene and has three benzene rings fused together but not arranged in a straight line. Chemical formula: C 14 H 10 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of phenanthrene¹

First recorded in 1880–85; phen(o)- + anthr(ac)ene

Word History and Origins

Origin of phenanthrene¹

C19: from pheno- + anthracene

Example Sentences

Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the phenyl ether substituent and phenanthrene shelf were forced into a PD stacking interaction in the folded conformation.

From Nature

The hydrocarbons are separated from the “Stupp” by means of alcohol, the soluble portion on distillation giving first phenanthrene and then a mixture of pyrene and fluoranthene.

From Project Gutenberg

They also investigated certain hydrocarbons occurring in the high boiling point fraction of the coal tar distillate and solved the constitution of phenanthrene.

From Project Gutenberg

The hydrocarbons mostly belong to the benzene series CnH2n-6, the naphthalene series CnH2n-12, and the anthracene and phenanthrene series CnH2n-18.

From Project Gutenberg

Working up the Anthracene Oil Fraction.—The crude oil boils between 280� and 400� C. It is liquid at 60� C., but on cooling about 6 to 10% of crude anthracene separates as greenish-yellow, sandy crystals, containing about 30% of real anthracene, together with a large percentage of carbazol and phenanthrene.

From Project Gutenberg