sulfonephthalein

noun

sul·​fone·​phthalein

variants or less commonly sulfonphthalein

¦səlˌfōn,

-fän+

: any of a group of organic compounds (such as phenolsulfonephthalein or bromocresol purple) that are analogous to the phthaleins and like them are intensely colored in alkaline solution and that are made by condensation of phenols with anhydrides or acid chlorides of ortho-sulfobenzoic acid or its derivatives

Word History

Etymology

sulfone, sulfon- + phthalein

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