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quaternary ammonium compound

noun

, Chemistry.
  1. any of a class of salts derived from ammonium in which the nitrogen atom is attached to four organic groups, as in benzalkonium chloride; the salts are cationic surface-active compounds used as antiseptics and disinfectants.


quaternary ammonium compound

noun

  1. a type of ionic compound that can be regarded as derived from ammonium compounds by replacing the hydrogen atoms with organic groups
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of quaternary ammonium compound1

First recorded in 1815–25

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quaternaryquaternary structure