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volatile organic compound — Carbon-containing chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and can cause air pollution or health problems

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: Carbon-containing chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and can cause air pollution or health problems

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈvɑːləˌtaɪl ɔːrˈɡænɪk ˈkɑːmpaʊnd/

Example Sentences

  • My mom bought expensive low-VOC wallpaper, but our cat still prefers to scratch the old smelly one.
  • The laboratory measures volatile organic compounds in air quality tests.
  • After painting with high-VOC paint, our house smelled like a chemical factory having a bad hair day.

volatile organic compound

NOUN

[/ˈvɑːləˌtaɪl ɔːrˈɡænɪk ˈkɑːmpaʊnd/]

Carbon-containing chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and can cause air pollution or health problems

A volatile organic compound vapor rises from factory containers, polluting the air
💡 Concept

A volatile organic compound vapor rises from factory containers, polluting the air

Volatile organic compounds rise invisibly — the compound threat we breathe, the toxic vapor that organizes harm in every breath we compound
🎵 Rhyme

Volatile organic compounds rise invisibly — the compound threat we breathe, the toxic vapor that organizes harm in every breath we compound

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈvɑːləˌtaɪl ɔːrˈɡænɪk ˈkɑːmpaʊnd/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈvɒləˌtaɪl ɔːˈɡænɪk ˈkɒmpaʊnd/

🌳Etymology

Origin

From Latin 'volatilis' meaning 'flying' or 'fleeting', derived from 'volare' (to fly). 'Organic' comes from Latin 'organicus', relating to living organisms or their compounds. 'Compound' comes from Latin 'componere' (to put together).

Breakdown

volatile (from Latin volare, to fly + -ile, adjective suffix = easily evaporating) + organic (from Latin organum, tool/organ + -ic, adjective suffix = carbon-based) + compound (from Latin com-, together + ponere, to place = substance made of two or more elements) = volatile organic compound

🎵Rhyme

astoundprofoundsurround
astound
profound
surround

🔗Collocations

VOC emissions
reduce VOCs
VOC content
low-VOC paint
VOC concentration
indoor VOCs

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My mom bought expensive low-VOC wallpaper, but our cat still prefers to scratch the old smelly one.”

“The laboratory measures volatile organic compounds in air quality tests.”

😄 Fun example

“After painting with high-VOC paint, our house smelled like a chemical factory having a bad hair day.”

“Green building standards limit volatile organic compound emissions.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

VOCsorganic vaporschemical emissionsair pollutants

Antonyms

non-volatile compoundsstable chemicals

Related

formaldehydebenzenetolueneair qualityindoor pollutionemission standards

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