murexide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (C2/Technical)Highly Technical/Scientific (Chemistry, History of Chemistry, Dye Manufacturing)
Quick answer
What does “murexide” mean?
A purple-red ammonium salt of purpuric acid, used historically as a dye and in analytical chemistry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A purple-red ammonium salt of purpuric acid, used historically as a dye and in analytical chemistry.
A chemical compound derived from uric acid, traditionally used as an indicator in complexometric titrations to detect certain metal ions, particularly calcium. Its historical importance lies in its vivid purple colour as a dye, now superseded by synthetic alternatives.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or spelling; term is identical in both varieties due to its technical nature.
Connotations
No regional connotations. Carries connotations of historical/obsolete chemistry and classical analytical techniques.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to specialised textbooks and historical papers.
Grammar
How to Use “murexide” in a Sentence
[Substance] is detected/identified using murexide.Murexide reacts with [metal ion].The [solution/titration] employs murexide as an indicator.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “murexide” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The murexide complex exhibited a characteristic colour shift.
- A murexide-based assay was described.
American English
- The murexide test proved inconclusive.
- We observed a murexide colour change.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in advanced chemistry texts discussing classical analytical methods or the history of dyes.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Core usage. Refers to a specific chemical reagent in analytical chemistry and historical industrial chemistry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “murexide”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “murexide”
- Confusing it with 'murex' (the mollusc).
- Using it as a general term for any purple dye.
- Mispronouncing as /mjuːˈrɛksaɪd/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is largely obsolete in modern analytical labs, having been replaced by more selective and stable indicators, but it remains of historical interest.
It acts as a metallochromic indicator, changing colour when it forms a complex with specific metal ions like calcium, nickel, or cobalt.
It derives from 'Murex', a genus of sea snails historically used to produce Tyrian purple dye, due to the compound's similar purple colour.
Yes, it was originally discovered and used as a purple dye for fabrics in the 19th century before its analytical applications were realised.
A purple-red ammonium salt of purpuric acid, used historically as a dye and in analytical chemistry.
Murexide is usually highly technical/scientific (chemistry, history of chemistry, dye manufacturing) in register.
Murexide: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmjʊərɪksaɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmjʊrəksaɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Murex (a sea snail yielding purple dye) + ide (common chemical suffix) = a purple-coloured chemical compound.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOUR FOR CHEMICAL ENTITY (The distinctive purple colour stands for the compound itself).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'murexide' primarily used?