sulphone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/TechnicalTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “sulphone” mean?
any of a class of chemical compounds characterized by the presence of a sulfonyl group linked to two carbon atoms.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
any of a class of chemical compounds characterized by the presence of a sulfonyl group linked to two carbon atoms.
In chemistry, an organic compound containing the group –SO₂– linked to two hydrocarbon groups.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a spelling variant: UK 'sulphone' vs US 'sulfone'. The UK spelling is consistent with 'sulphur', while US uses 'sulfur'.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties. No significant connotative difference.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Almost exclusively found in chemical and pharmaceutical literature.
Grammar
How to Use “sulphone” in a Sentence
[be] a sulphone[synthesize/form] a sulphone[characterize] the sulphoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulphone” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The synthesis of the novel sulphone proceeded smoothly.
- Dapsone is a well-known sulphone used in medicine.
- The reaction mechanism involved the formation of a sulphone intermediate.
American English
- Researchers analyzed the sulfone's crystal structure.
- The polymer's properties were enhanced by the sulfone linkage.
- This class of sulfones shows promising biological activity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceutical or chemical industry reports.
Academic
Used in chemistry, pharmacology, and materials science journals.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in organic chemistry and drug development contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sulphone”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sulphone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulphone”
- Misspelling as 'sulfone' in UK contexts or 'sulphone' in US contexts.
- Confusing with 'sulphonamide' (a related but different class of compounds).
- Using without definite article when referring to the class: 'Sulphone is used...' vs 'A/The sulphone is used...'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same class of chemical compounds. 'Sulphone' is the British English spelling, following 'sulphur'. 'Sulfone' is the American English spelling, following 'sulfur'.
It is primarily a noun. The adjectival form is typically hyphenated or used attributively (e.g., 'sulphone-based polymer', 'sulphone group').
Dapsone, a medication used to treat leprosy and dermatitis herpetiformis, is a prominent example of a sulphone used in medicine.
It is a highly specialized term from organic chemistry. Its usage is confined to technical fields like pharmaceuticals, polymer science, and industrial chemistry.
any of a class of chemical compounds characterized by the presence of a sulfonyl group linked to two carbon atoms.
Sulphone is usually technical/scientific in register.
Sulphone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌlfəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌlfoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SULphur + phONE' – a compound where sulphur (in the SO₂ group) is 'phoning home' to two carbon atoms.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BRIDGE or LINK: The sulphone group acts as a connecting bridge between two organic parts of a molecule.
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you MOST likely to encounter the word 'sulphone'?