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disulfide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1-C2 / Low
UK/daɪˈsʌl.faɪd/US/daɪˈsʌl.faɪd/

Technical, Scientific

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Quick answer

What does “disulfide” mean?

A chemical compound containing two sulfur atoms bonded together (-S-S-).

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A chemical compound containing two sulfur atoms bonded together (-S-S-).

Often refers to a covalent bond between two sulfur atoms, as in proteins (disulfide bonds, which contribute to structure) or specific minerals like iron disulfide (pyrite).

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Spelling: UK prefers 'disulphide', US uses 'disulfide'. Pronunciation reflects this spelling difference (sulph- vs. sulf-).

Connotations

None beyond spelling/pronunciation. No semantic difference.

Frequency

Slightly higher frequency in US texts due to spelling convention aligning with 'sulfur' (US) vs 'sulphur' (UK).

Grammar

How to Use “disulfide” in a Sentence

[noun] disulfidedisulfide of [noun]disulfide bond between [noun] and [noun]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
disulfide bonddisulfide bridgecarbon disulfideiron disulfidemolybdenum disulfide
medium
form a disulfidereduce disulfideintramolecular disulfide
weak
disulfide linkagedisulfide groupcontain disulfide

Examples

Examples of “disulfide” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The cysteines can disulphidise under oxidative conditions.
  • The protein misfolded because it failed to disulphidise correctly.

American English

  • The cysteines can disulfidize under oxidative conditions.
  • Enzymes help the protein correctly disulfidize.

adverb

British English

  • The groups are bonded disulphidically.
  • The reaction proceeds disulphidically under these conditions.

American English

  • The groups are bonded disulfidically.
  • The reaction proceeds disulfidically under these conditions.

adjective

British English

  • The disulphidic linkage was confirmed by spectroscopy.
  • They studied the disulphide-containing peptide.

American English

  • The disulfidic linkage was confirmed by spectroscopy.
  • This is a disulfide-containing enzyme.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually unused, except in specific industries like chemical manufacturing or pharmaceuticals.

Academic

Core term in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, and materials science papers.

Everyday

Extremely rare. May appear in advanced educational contexts or popular science articles.

Technical

Precise and frequent term in laboratory protocols, research publications, and technical specifications for materials.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “disulfide”

Neutral

sulfur-sulfur bondS-S bond

Weak

sulphide linkage (contextual, outdated)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “disulfide”

sulfhydryl group (-SH)thiolfree thiol

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “disulfide”

  • Mispronouncing as 'die-sul-fied'. Correct: 'die-SUL-fide'.
  • Confusing with 'disulphate' (a different ion).
  • Using in non-scientific contexts where it is not understood.
  • Misspelling as 'disulfied' or 'disulphate'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, they are the same chemical concept. 'Disulfide' is the American English spelling, while 'disulphide' is the British English spelling.

A disulfide bond is a covalent bond formed between two sulfur atoms (from thiol groups, often on cysteine amino acids in proteins). It acts like a cross-link, stabilizing the protein's 3D shape.

Human hair and bird feathers. The protein keratin contains many disulfide bonds, which give them strength and resilience. Permanent hair waving works by breaking and reforming these bonds.

No, it is a specialised scientific term. You will encounter it almost exclusively in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, and related technical fields.

A chemical compound containing two sulfur atoms bonded together (-S-S-).

Disulfide is usually technical, scientific in register.

Disulfide: in British English it is pronounced /daɪˈsʌl.faɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /daɪˈsʌl.faɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “Bend over backwards (no direct idiom; the concept appears in phrases like 'held together by disulfide bonds' metaphorically for strong connection).”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'DI' (two) + 'SULFIDE' (containing sulfur). A disulfide has TWO sulfur atoms in a bonded pair.

Conceptual Metaphor

A 'bridge' or 'cross-link' (disulfide bridge) that provides structural integrity, like a crossbeam or a staple holding things together.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The hair's curl and strength are largely due to the bonds in the keratin protein.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary context for the word 'disulfide'?