carbon tetrachloride

noun

1. a colorless, nonflammable, vaporous, toxic liquid, CCl 4 , usually produced by the reaction of chlorine with carbon disulfide, methane, or other carbon-containing compounds: used mainly as a refrigerant, fire extinguisher, cleaning fluid, solvent, and insecticide.

carbon tetrachloride

noun

1. a colourless volatile nonflammable sparingly soluble liquid made from chlorine and carbon disulphide; tetrachloromethane. It is used as a solvent, cleaning fluid, and insecticide. Formula: CCl 4

carbon tetrachloride

1. A colorless, nonflammable, poisonous liquid having a strong odor. It is used to make refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and pharmaceuticals. It is also used in petroleum refining and as a solvent. Until the mid-1960s, it was used as a cleaning fluid and in fire extinguishers. Chemical formula: CCl 4 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of carbon tetrachloride¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

All use an extinguishing liquid with carbon tetrachloride as a base.

From Project Gutenberg

When passed through a red-hot tube with chlorine it yields carbon tetrachloride and sulphur chloride (H. Kolbe).

From Project Gutenberg

Extinguishers arranged to throw a stream of carbon tetrachloride are also on the market.

From Project Gutenberg

Carbon tetrachloride (Merck's) is much cheaper than "Carbona" and about equally as good.

From Project Gutenberg

All the extinguishers of this type use a liquid which has carbon tetrachloride as a base.

From Project Gutenberg