tetraethyl lead

tetraethyl lead
tetraethyl lead [te′trə eth′əl ]
n.
a heavy, colorless, poisonous compound of lead, Pb(C2H5) 4, added to gasoline to increase power and prevent engine knock

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      organometallic compound that is the chief antiknock agent for automotive fuels. Manufactured by the action of ethyl chloride on a powdered alloy of lead and sodium, the compound is a dense, colourless liquid that is quite volatile, boiling at about 200° C (400° F). As an antidetonant (i.e., antiknock agent), tetraethyl lead is added to gasoline in quantities not exceeding 3 cubic cm (0.2 cubic inch) per gallon; a small quantity of ethylene dibromide and sometimes ethylene dichloride is added to prevent accumulation of lead deposits in the engine. Tetraethyl lead can cause acute or chronic lead poisoning if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Its use declined markedly during the 1970s because the products of its combustion are toxic and detrimental to catalytic devices that were introduced to nullify other objectionable components of the exhaust gases of engines.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • tetraethyl lead — ☆ tetraethyl lead [te′trə eth′əl ] n. a heavy, colorless, poisonous compound of lead, Pb(C2H5) 4, added to gasoline to increase power and prevent engine knock …   English World dictionary

  • tetraethyl lead — tet·ra·eth·yl lead .te trə .eth əl led n a heavy oily poisonous liquid Pb(C2H5)4 used as an antiknock agent in gasoline called also lead tetraethyl …   Medical dictionary

  • tetraethyl lead — /ˌtɛtrəˌɛθəl ˈlɛd/ (say .tetruh.ethuhl led) noun → lead tetraethyl …  

  • tetraethyl lead — (TEL) a lead compound used as an additive to increase the octane rating and reduce the knock or detonation tendencies of gasoline. Also see lead free …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • tetraethyl lead — [ˌtɛtrə i:θʌɪl] noun Chemistry an oily organic compound of lead, used as an anti knock agent in leaded petrol …   English new terms dictionary

  • tetraethyl lead — noun Date: 1923 a heavy oily poisonous liquid Pb(C2H5)4 used especially formerly as an antiknock agent …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tetraethyl lead — noun a toxic organometallic compound, (CH)Pb, added to petroleum/gasoline as an antiknock agent Syn: TEL …   Wiktionary

  • tetraethyl lead — n. a liquid added to petrol as an antiknock agent …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lead poisoning — Classification and external resources An X ray demonstrating the characteristic finding of lead poisoning, dense metaphyseal lines. ICD 10 T …   Wikipedia

  • lead tetraethyl — n TETRAETHYL LEAD …   Medical dictionary

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