picric acid
noun
pic·ric acid
| \ ˈpi-krik-
\
\
Definition of picric acid
: a toxic yellow crystalline phenol derivative C6H3N3O7 structurally similar to TNT and used especially as a high explosive and as a dye or mordant
Examples of picric acid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Mont-Blanc was packed full of TNT, picric acid, gun cotton and aircraft fuel. — Stephen Maher, chicagotribune.com, "'The Great Halifax Explosion': A tragedy deftly retold," 21 Dec. 2017 Experiments with a compound called TNP (2,4,6-trinitrophenol, also known as picric acid), which researchers often use to study obesity and diabetes, show that in mice the therapy can promote the formation of new bone. — Giorgia Guglielmi, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: A newly found black hole, water-cooling solar panels, and a bone-strengthening therapy," 8 Sep. 2017 Mustard gas, picric acid, and TNT—all organic molecules—made for unimaginably destructive weapons. — Rebecca Altman, The Atlantic, "How the Benzene Tree Polluted the World," 4 Oct. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'picric acid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for picric acid
picric acid
noun
pic·ric acid
| \ ˌpik-rik-
\
\
Medical Definition of picric acid
: a bitter toxic explosive yellow crystalline strong acid C6H3N3O7 used especially as a dye or biological stain, as an antiseptic, and as a precipitant for organic bases and polycyclic hydrocarbons
— called also trinitrophenol