crown ether: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Technical/Specialist)Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “crown ether” mean?
A cyclic compound containing ether groups, typically used to bind specific metal ions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cyclic compound containing ether groups, typically used to bind specific metal ions.
A class of macrocyclic compounds whose ring structure resembles a crown, enabling selective complexation with cations, particularly in coordination chemistry, catalysis, and separation processes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences; the term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical with no regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally rare outside specialized chemistry contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “crown ether” in a Sentence
[crown ether] + [verb: binds, complexes, encapsulates] + [cation/metal ion]a [size descriptor: 12-crown-4, 18-crown-6] crown etherVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crown ether” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The potassium ion was crown-ether-complexed.
- Researchers aim to crown-ether functionalise the polymer.
American English
- The potassium ion was crown-ether-complexed.
- They sought to crown-ether functionalize the polymer.
adverb
British English
- The ion was bound crown-ether-like.
- The compound behaved crown-ether-specifically.
American English
- The ion was bound crown-ether-like.
- The compound behaved crown-ether-specifically.
adjective
British English
- crown-ether-based catalysis
- crown-ether-modified surface
American English
- crown-ether-based catalysis
- crown-ether-modified surface
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Exclusively used in chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in supramolecular chemistry, describing ligands for ion transport, sensors, and catalytic systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown ether”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crown ether”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown ether”
- Using 'crown ether' to refer to any ether or crown-shaped object.
- Incorrectly treating it as a mass noun (e.g., 'some crown ether') when it is typically a count noun (e.g., 'a crown ether', 'crown ethers').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a class of molecules. Specific members are named by the ring size and number of oxygen atoms (e.g., 18-crown-6).
Almost exclusively in advanced chemistry contexts, such as research papers, textbooks on organic, inorganic, or supramolecular chemistry, and technical patents.
Traditional crown ethers are designed for cations. For anion binding, related classes like 'cryptands' or 'aza-crowns' (where nitrogen replaces oxygen) are more common.
The name was coined by Charles J. Pedersen who discovered them; the molecular structure, when drawn in a certain way, resembles a crown.
A cyclic compound containing ether groups, typically used to bind specific metal ions.
Crown ether is usually technical/scientific in register.
Crown ether: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˈiːθə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˈiθər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None applicable; term is purely technical.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a crown (ring) made of ether links that 'crowns' or captures a metal ion king.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOST AS CROWN; BINDING AS CROWNING (The molecule is a crown that places itself on the 'head' of a cation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a crown ether?