Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
quaternary ammonium compound Word Origin noun Chemistry.
- any of a class of salts derived from ammonium in which the nitrogen atom is attached to four organic groups, as in benzalkonium chloride; the salts are cationic surface-active compounds used as antiseptics and disinfectants.
Origin of quaternary ammonium compound First recorded in 1815–25 Also called quaternary ammonium salt. British Dictionary definitions for quaternary ammonium compound quaternary ammonium compound noun
- a type of ionic compound that can be regarded as derived from ammonium compounds by replacing the hydrogen atoms with organic groups