ScienceSeptember 2, 2026

perfluoroalkyl

pur-flor-o-AL-kil

Definition

Referring to a chemical compound where all hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon chain have been replaced by fluorine atoms.

Etymology

The word is a chemical construction combining 'per-' (meaning completely or thoroughly), 'fluoro-' (referring to the element fluorine), and 'alkyl' (a univalent radical derived from an alkane).

In the news

In this article, the term describes a specific class of long-lasting environmental contaminants known as PFAS, specifically the acids that researchers investigated to see if they were being transported via sea spray.

Risk of Exposure to Forever Chemicals Through Sea Spray May Be Overblown

Read the full article ↗

Technology Networks

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