I. ˈsəlfəˌnāt noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary sulfon ic + -ate
: a salt or ester of a sulfonic acid
II. transitive verb
also sul·pho·nate “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: sulfonate from sulfonate (I) ; sulphonate from obsolete English sulphonate, n., salt or ester of a sulfonic acid, from English sulphon- (from obsolete English sulphonic sulfonic) + English -ate
: to introduce the sulfonic group into (an organic compound) : convert into a sulfonic acid or salt or halide (as by treating with concentrated sulfuric acid, oleum, or chlorosulfonic acid) ; broadly : to treat (an organic substance) with sulfuric acid or a related agent regardless of the nature of the products — compare sulfate 1