oxide
UK: ˈɒksaɪd | US: ˈɑːksaɪd
n. A compound of oxygen with another element or group.
oxide = ox<oxygen> + ide<chemical compound suffix>
- ox: Derived from French oxygène (oxygen), itself from Greek oxys (sharp, acid) + gen (producing). The "ox-" morpheme reflects the element oxygen's role in forming acidic compounds.
- ide: A suffix in chemistry denoting binary compounds (e.g., chloride, sulfide), originating from the Greek -idēs (related to).
Etymology Origin:
The term oxide emerged in the late 18th century during the systematization of chemical nomenclature. It combines oxygen (a key reactant) with -ide, a suffix standardized by French chemist Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau to classify compounds where oxygen bonds with a single other element. The word encapsulates the foundational logic of early chemistry: naming compounds by their components.
Rust is a common iron oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen.
Aluminum oxide is used as an abrasive in sandpaper.
The lab technician analyzed the oxide layer on the metal surface.
Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are both oxides of carbon.
Silicon oxide is a major component of glass.