diazomethane

noun

di·​azo·​methane

(ˈ)dī¦a(ˌ)zō,

-ā(ˌ)zō+

: a yellow odorless poisonous explosive gaseous compound CH₂N₂ used chiefly as a methylating agent (as for converting organic acids into their methyl esters) and in converting organic acids into the next higher homologues

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary diaz- + methane

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