sulphuretted hydrogen: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, Scientific, Historical
Quick answer
What does “sulphuretted hydrogen” mean?
The chemical compound H₂S.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The chemical compound H₂S; a colourless, highly toxic, flammable gas with a characteristic foul odour of rotten eggs.
A gas produced by the decomposition of organic matter and found in volcanic emissions, sewers, and some mineral waters. It is also used in various industrial processes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is historically more associated with British scientific texts; the modern American spelling would be 'sulfuretted'. However, the term is largely obsolete in modern scientific writing in both regions.
Connotations
Strongly dated and technical. Using it today might imply quoting an old source or affectation.
Frequency
Extremely low in contemporary usage. 'Hydrogen sulphide/sulfide' is the standard term.
Grammar
How to Use “sulphuretted hydrogen” in a Sentence
V (sulphuretted hydrogen) is released from NN is contaminated with sulphuretted hydrogenN containing sulphuretted hydrogenVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulphuretted hydrogen” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The spring was noted for its sulphuretted hydrogen content.
- They identified a sulphuretted hydrogen spring.
American English
- The sample showed sulfuretted hydrogen impurities.
- An old manual described sulfuretted hydrogen tests.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used only in historical industrial reports.
Academic
Found in older chemistry texts. Modern papers use 'hydrogen sulfide'.
Everyday
Not used; a layperson would say 'rotten egg gas'.
Technical
Obsolete technical term, relevant for interpreting historical documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sulphuretted hydrogen”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sulphuretted hydrogen”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulphuretted hydrogen”
- Misspelling as *'sulfureted hydrogen' or *'sulphurated hydrogen'.
- Using it in a modern scientific context instead of 'hydrogen sulphide'.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., /ˈsʌlfjʊrɛtɪd/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is an older name for the same chemical compound, H₂S.
Both are historical. 'Sulphuretted' follows British spelling conventions, while 'sulfuretted' follows American. Both are obsolete.
Primarily in chemistry texts, industrial reports, or safety documents from the 19th or early 20th centuries.
It comes from an older chemical nomenclature where '-etted' indicated a compound in which one element was combined with another (like 'carburetted hydrogen' for methane).
The chemical compound H₂S.
Sulphuretted hydrogen is usually technical, scientific, historical in register.
Sulphuretted hydrogen: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌlfjʊˈrɛtɪd ˈhaɪdrədʒ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌlfjəˈrɛt̬ɪd ˈhaɪdrədʒən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'Sulphuretted' hints at being combined with sulphur, just like 'hydrogenated' means combined with hydrogen.
Conceptual Metaphor
POISON/ROTTENNESS (associated with decay, toxicity, and foul smell).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason 'sulphuretted hydrogen' is seldom used today?