dissolving agent

Other forms: dissolving agents

Definitions of dissolving agent

1. noun

   a liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances
   synonyms: dissolvent, dissolver, resolvent, solvent

   types:

   acetone, dimethyl ketone, propanone

   the simplest ketone; a highly inflammable liquid widely used as an organic solvent and as material for making plastics

   chlorobenzene

   a colorless volatile flammable liquid with an almond odor that is made from chlorine and benzene; used as a solvent and in the production of phenol and DDT and other organic compounds

   carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene, oxybenzene, phenol, phenylic acid

   a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally

   carbon tet, carbon tetrachloride, perchloromethane, tetrachloromethane

   a colorless nonflammable liquid used as a solvent for fats and oils; because of its toxicity its use as a cleaning fluid or fire extinguisher has declined

   hexane

   a colorless flammable liquid alkane derived from petroleum and used as a solvent

   menstruum

   (archaic) a solvent

   naphtha

   any of various volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures; used chiefly as solvents

   remover

   a solvent that removes a substance (usually from a surface)

   alcahest, alkahest, universal solvent

   hypothetical universal solvent once sought by alchemists

   methylbenzene, toluene

   a colorless flammable liquid obtained from petroleum or coal tar; used as a solvent for gums and lacquers and in high-octane fuels

   xylene, xylol

   a colorless flammable volatile liquid hydrocarbon used as a solvent

   type of:

   medium

   an intervening substance through which something is achieved