† nitrationn.1
Chemistry. Obsolete. rare.
The hypothetical radical which combines with hydrogen to form nitric acid (wrongly supposed to have the formula HNO6).The term arose in connection with the theory of Davy and Liebig (now accepted) that oxyacids were essentially similar to hydracids; the supposed radical is in fact the nitrate ion.
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1852 T. Graham Elem. Chem. I. iii. 157 Hydrated nitric acid, or aqua fortis, becomes a hydrogen acid by the creation of a nitrate radical, nitration. It is the nitrationide of hydrogen instead of the nitrate of water—H + NO6, instead of HO + NO5.
1855 E. L. Youmans Chem. Atlas 39 In nitric acid, the hydrogen is believed to be united to a compound radical, NO, named nitration (pronounced nitrati-on, with a hard t, and the tion as a dissyllable).
1863 E. L. Youmans Class-bk. Chem. 274 It is claimed that in sulphuric acid there is the radicle sulphion SO4; in phosphoric acid, phosphion PO6, and in nitric acid, nitration NO6. These radicles unite with hydrogen, and thus the oxoacids are binary.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
nitrationn.2
/nʌɪˈtreɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌnaɪˈtreɪʃ(ə)n/ Chemistry.
The process of nitrating a compound or substance; the introduction of one or more nitro groups into a compound, often in place of a hydrogen atom; the formation of a nitrate or nitro compound. Also: an instance of this.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > chemical reactions or processes (named) > nitrification
nitrification1797
nitration1876
1876 Nation (N.Y.) 20 Jan. 42/2 The nitration of the glycerine takes place immediately, and the product settles to the bottom of the tank in the form of an oil.
1887 Sci. Amer. 29 Jan. 69/2 Treating..pure cellulose to a bath of mixed nitric and sulphuric acids in which it undergoes the chemical change known as ‘nitration’.
1906 H. J. H. Fenton Notes Qualitative Anal. (new ed.) 138 Heat substance with strong nitric acid; the substance turns yellow... The colour appears to be due to nitration in a benzene nucleus.
1930 Science 17 Oct. 386/2 For nitrations, in the absence of water, diacetylorthonitric acid and benzoyl nitrate were employed.
1960 F. G. Mann & B. C. Saunders Pract. Org. Chem. (ed. 4) ii. 155 The conversion of benzene to nitrobenzene has to be performed with care in order to avoid the further nitration of the nitrobenzene to m-dinitrobenzene.
1991 Industr. Waste Managem. Oct. 27/3 Nitration is an important technique for tailoring the properties of many products in the fine chemical, agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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