COAL TAR Definition & Meaning

coal tar

noun

a thick, black, viscid liquid formed during the distillation of coal, that upon further distillation yields compounds, as benzene, anthracene, and phenol, from which are derived a large number of dyes, drugs, and other synthetic compounds, and that yields a final residuum coal-tar pitch, which is used chiefly in making pavements.

coal tar

noun

a black tar, produced by the distillation of bituminous coal, that can be further distilled to yield benzene, toluene, xylene, anthracene, phenol, etc

coal tar

A thick, sticky, black liquid obtained through the destructive distillation (heating in the absence of air) of coal. It is used as a source of many organic compounds, such as benzene, naphthalene, and phenols, which are used in dyes, drugs, and other compounds.

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��ǲ��-�ٲ�� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of coal tar¹

First recorded in 1775–85

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A predecessor had operated an unclean gas plant around a century ago, the company said, and had in the process dumped a material akin to coal tar into the river, trapping artifacts in the sediment.

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The gas plant generated large volumes of coal tar and creosote wastes from its process of turning low-grade coal into gas for street lamps and homes.

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Regarding the May 26 Metro article “Environmental group’s suit says Alexandria pollutes Potomac with coal tar”:

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An environmental organization that monitors the Potomac River is suing Alexandria, charging that the Northern Virginia city has been allowing coal tar and other cancer-causing pollutants to contaminate the waterway for decades.

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This is in part the work of indole, an aromatic compound present in foul-smelling substances like coal tar and feces, which in trace amounts gives the most delicate of flowers an almost animal opulence.

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