acrylamide

[ uh-kril-uh-mahyd, -mid, ak-ruh-lam-ahyd, -id ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a colorless, odorless, toxic crystalline compound, C 3 H 5 NO, soluble in water, alcohol, and acetone: used in the synthesis of polyacrylamide and other organic materials, as textile fibers, in the processing of ore, and in the treatment of sewage.

acrylamide

/ ə-krĭl′ə-mīd′ /

1. A chemical compound that is derived from acrylic acid and easily forms polymers. Acrylamide is used in synthetic fibers and sewage treatment and as a medium in electrophoresis, especially to separate macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Chemical formula: C 3 H 5 NO.

Word History and Origins

Origin of acrylamide¹

acryl(ic) + amide