Pronunciation: [ˈanθɹə͡ʊn] (IPA) 
The word "anthrone" is spelled with the letter "o" in the middle, despite sounding like "an-thraan." This is because the "o" is pronounced as a short "uh" sound in English. The correct IPA phonetic transcription for "anthrone" is /ˈænθroʊn/, where the stressed syllable is "throne." The word refers to a reddish-brown crystalline substance that is commonly used in organic chemistry as a test reagent for carbohydrates.
Anthrone refers to a chemical compound that belongs to the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is a colorless, solid, crystalline substance with a distinct odor. The compound is composed of three benzene rings fused together in a linear arrangement, resulting in a tricyclic structure. The molecular formula of anthrone is C14H10O, and its molar mass is 194.23 grams per mole.
Anthrone is widely recognized for its importance in various fields, particularly as a chemical reagent and dye precursor. It serves as a fundamental building block in the synthesis of dyes, pigments, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, anthrone can be chemically modified to produce derivatives with altered properties, leading to the creation of a diverse range of substances.
Due to its distinct properties, anthrone is often employed in analytical chemistry as a chromogenic agent. Specifically, it is utilized in the analysis of carbohydrates, as some sugars react with anthrone under suitable conditions to form intensely colored products. The resulting color change enables the quantification and identification of these sugars through various spectroscopic techniques, including spectrophotometry.
In summary, anthrone is a tricyclic aromatic compound that serves as a versatile chemical reagent, dye precursor, and chromogenic agent. Its unique structure and properties make it a valuable component in the synthesis of dyes, pigments, and pharmaceuticals, as well as a tool in the analysis of carbohydrates.
The word "anthrone" is derived from the combination of two different terms: "anthra-" and "-one".
The prefix "anthra-" comes from the Greek word "ānthrakōn", meaning "coal". This root term is also found in words like "anthracite" and "anthracene", which are both related to coal.
The suffix "-one" is a common chemical suffix, often used to denote a ketone functional group. Ketones are organic compounds characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two other carbon atoms.
Therefore, the word "anthrone" combines "anthra-" with "-one" to refer specifically to a compound that contains an anthracene moiety and a ketone functional group.
