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PHENOLPHTHALEIN
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Dictionary entry overview: What does phenolphthalein mean?
• PHENOLPHTHALEIN (noun)
The noun PHENOLPHTHALEIN has 1 sense:
1. a laxative used in many preparations under various trade names; also used as an acid-base indicator in titrations involving weak acids and strong bases because it is brilliant red at high alkalinity and colorless below pH 8
Familiarity information: PHENOLPHTHALEIN used as a noun is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A laxative used in many preparations under various trade names; also used as an acid-base indicator in titrations involving weak acids and strong bases because it is brilliant red at high alkalinity and colorless below pH 8
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("phenolphthalein" is a kind of...):
laxative (a mild cathartic)
acid-base indicator (an indicator that changes color on going from acidic to basic solutions)
Context examples
However, phenolphthalein is no longer used as a laxative due to the suspected carcinogenicity of this compound.
(Phenolphthalein, NCI Thesaurus)
Phenolphthalein exerts laxative effects by stimulating the intestinal mucosa and constricting smooth muscles.
(Phenolphthalein, NCI Thesaurus)
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