tetrachloroethane
noun
tet·ra·chlo·ro·ethane
"+
variants or less commonly tetrachlorethane
¦⸗⸗ˌklōr+
: either of two isomeric heavy liquid compounds C2H2Cl4
especially : the symmetrical isomer CHCl2CHCl2 that forms toxic vapors with an odor similar to that of chloroform, that is made from acetylene and chlorine, and that is used chiefly as a nonflammable solvent of medium volatility and in making trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene
Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary tetrachlor- + ethane