benzalkonium chloride

noun Chemistry.

1. a white or yellowish-white, water-soluble mixture of ammonium chloride derivatives having the structure C8H10NRCl, where R is a mixture of radicals ranging from C8H17– to C18H37–, that occurs as an amorphous powder or in gelatinous lumps: used chiefly as an antiseptic and a disinfectant.

n.

1. A powder prepared in an aqueous solution and used as a fungicide, bactericide, and spermicide.

1. A yellow-white powder prepared in an aqueous solution and used as a detergent, fungicide, bactericide, and spermicide. Benzalkonium chloride is a mixture of the chlorides of various organic compounds having a benzene ring attached to an ammoniated alkane.