酚酞 (fēn tài) — phenolphthalein | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A chemical indicator (化学指示剂) used in titrations: colorless in acid, turning pink in basic solutions.

noun

phenolphthalein

酚酞。
fēn tài Shì yì zhǒng cháng yòng de zhǐ shì jì.
Phenolphthalein is a commonly used indicator.
，酚酞。
Zài suān xìng róng yè zhōng, fēn tài shì wú sè de.
In acidic solutions, phenolphthalein is colorless.
酚酞。
fēn tài Yù dào jiǎn huì biàn chéng fěn hóng sè.
Phenolphthalein turns pink when it encounters alkali.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

酞tàiphthalein

酚 indicates phenol, and 酞 indicates phthalein, giving phenolphthalein.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

酉分酚

Meaning part形符xíngfú

酉酉yǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

分

Same sound today

In 酚, the left part is 酉 and the right part is 分; 分 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

酉太酞

Meaning part形符xíngfú

酉酉yǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

太

Same sound today

酞 is built from 酉, which relates to its meaning, and 太, which shows how it is read.