dihydrogen

English

Etymology

From di- +‎ hydrogen.

Pronunciation

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Noun

dihydrogen (uncountable)

1. (chemistry) The divalent radical formed from two separate hydrogen atoms or ions.
2. (chemistry, modifying a noun) Describing a dihydrogen bond.
   • 1995, John December, quoting Craig Jackson, The World Wide Web Unleashed, 2nd edition, Indianapolis, Ind.: Sams.net, →ISBN, page 450:

     The Invisible Killer Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there.

3. (inorganic chemistry) The hydrogen molecule H₂.

Usage notes

• Used informally in dihydrogen monoxide, the supposed scientific name for water.
• Used in mixed salts, such as calcium dihydrogen phosphate.

Derived terms

• calcium dihydrogen phosphate
• dihydrogen arsenate
• dihydrogen monoxide
• dihydrogen oxide
• dihydrogen phosphate