isoprene
noun
iso·prene ˈī-sə-ˌprēn 
: a flammable liquid unsaturated hydrocarbon C5H8 used especially in synthetic rubber
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The mountains get their distinctive dark blue hue from the presence of the chemical isoprene found in many regional plants. 
Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2022 Ozone alters the biogenic volatile organic compounds that are emitted by plants, everything from isoprene to terpenes. Jim Robbins, Wired, 16 Oct. 2021 Trees in the facility that produce a chemical called isoprene, which seems to help plants photosynthesize at high temperatures, survived better than those that don’t—a shift whose full implications are still being worked out. Gabriel Popkin, National Geographic, 19 Nov. 2020 The scientists detected chemicals contained in our breath as well, including acetone and isoprene, plus compounds that are produced when ozone reacts with the oil on our skin. Emily Anthes, Scientific American, 1 June 2020 Rubber is also considered plastic, both natural (isoprene) and synthetic (styrene butadiene). Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2019 In 2017, for instance, researchers led by the University of Minnesota found a way to produce isoprene, a key ingredient in synthetic rubber, out of natural sources such as grass, trees and corn instead of fossil fuels. Hannah Whitaker, National Geographic, 20 Sep. 2019 Of the VOCs measured, isoprene proved to be the most reliable indicator for differentiating among the various age classes. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Oct. 2018 Isoprene is developed by taking large petroleum molecules, heating them up to break them apart and separating the isoprene from hundreds of other products. Nathan Dicamillo, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2017 See More
Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2022 Ozone alters the biogenic volatile organic compounds that are emitted by plants, everything from isoprene to terpenes. Jim Robbins, Wired, 16 Oct. 2021 Trees in the facility that produce a chemical called isoprene, which seems to help plants photosynthesize at high temperatures, survived better than those that don’t—a shift whose full implications are still being worked out. Gabriel Popkin, National Geographic, 19 Nov. 2020 The scientists detected chemicals contained in our breath as well, including acetone and isoprene, plus compounds that are produced when ozone reacts with the oil on our skin. Emily Anthes, Scientific American, 1 June 2020 Rubber is also considered plastic, both natural (isoprene) and synthetic (styrene butadiene). Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2019 In 2017, for instance, researchers led by the University of Minnesota found a way to produce isoprene, a key ingredient in synthetic rubber, out of natural sources such as grass, trees and corn instead of fossil fuels. Hannah Whitaker, National Geographic, 20 Sep. 2019 Of the VOCs measured, isoprene proved to be the most reliable indicator for differentiating among the various age classes. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Oct. 2018 Isoprene is developed by taking large petroleum molecules, heating them up to break them apart and separating the isoprene from hundreds of other products. Nathan Dicamillo, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
probably from is- + propyl + -ene
First Known Use
1860, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
isoprene
noun
iso·prene ˈī-sə-ˌprēn
: a flammable liquid unsaturated hydrocarbon C5H8 used especially in synthetic rubber