Aniline is an aromatic amine with the formula C6H5NH2, widely used as a precursor in dye and polymer production. It features a benzene ring bonded to an amino group, giving it distinctive chemical properties. In practice, the term appears in chemistry contexts, industrial discussions, and material science, where precise pronunciation helps avoid confusion with similar terms like anhydride or aniline derivatives.
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"The chemist purified aniline before initiating the polymerization reaction."
"Industrial safety notes emphasize handling aniline due to its toxicity."
"Aniline derivatives are key in dye chemistry and pigment production."
"Researchers compared the spectra of aniline and its derivatives to identify functional groups."
Aniline derives from the Spanish or Portuguese anil, referring to the indigo dye produced from Indigofera suffrutex historically called anil or anilum, with the Latinized form anilinum appearing in early chemical texts. The modern term fuses this dye-related root with the chemical suffix -ine, indicating a basic amine. The name entered English chemistry around the 19th century as researchers isolated the compound from aniline oil (ammoniacal distillate of resinous materials) and started using it as a standard starting material for dyes and polymers. Its first precise structural elucidation and synthesis emerged as aromatic chemistry matured, with early 1800s notes focusing on phenyl derivatives. By mid- to late-1800s, aniline became foundational in industrial chemistry, especially in dye chemistry, rubber vulcanization, and later in polymer science. The term stabilized to denote phenylamine specifically and is now ubiquitous in organic synthesis literature, with the spelling and pronunciation remaining consistent across languages that adopted the term through scientific translation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "aniline" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "aniline"
-ine sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈæ.nɪˌliːn/ in US and UK dictionaries, with primary stress on the first syllable and secondary stress on the third syllable. Break it as AN-i-line, where 'an' rhymes with 'man', 'i' is a short 'ih' sound, and 'line' is pronounced as 'leen' with a long 'ee' sound. In IPA for US: /ˈæ.nɪˌliːn/, UK: /ˈæ.nɪˌliːn/, AU: /ˈæ.nɪˌliːn/. Audio references: consult Cambridge/Oxford phonetic entries and Forvo pronunciations for regional nuance.
Common errors: 1) Emphasizing the second syllable (uh-NI-leen) instead of the primary stress on the first syllable. 2) Shortening the final -ine to a quick 'in' instead of 'een'. 3) Merging the 'li' into a weak 'luh' sound. Correction tips: keep primary stress on AN, clearly pronounce the 'i' as a short 'ih', then elongate the final 'ee-n' with a light 'ee' and n at the end. Practice with the mnemonic AN-i-leen and check with IPA /ˈæ.nɪˌliːn/.
In US and UK, the pronunciation centers on /ˈæ.nɪˌliːn/, with the final 'leen' having a long E sound. In some Australian speech, the final vowel may be slightly reduced to a shorter 'een' but still often near long 'ee' due to general rhotic tendencies and vowel qualities. The first syllable /æ/ remains relatively flat; the middle /ɪ/ is a short relaxed vowel. Across accents, you’ll hear subtle vowel duration differences and a potential non-rhotic tendency affecting r-less pronunciations elsewhere in connected speech.
The difficulty lies in balancing the syllable stress pattern and the long vowel in the final syllable while avoiding a clipped ending. The first syllable carries primary stress, but the second and especially the last syllable contain a lengthened vowel that signals the word boundary. The cluster 'ni' can tempt mispronunciations like /ˈæ.nəˈlin/ or /ˈæ.niˌlæn/. Focusing on /ˈæ.nɪˌliːn/ with a crisp final long 'ee-n' helps clarity, and practicing with minimal pairs that highlight vowel length can reduce confusion.
There are no silent letters in standard English pronunciation for 'aniline'. The word is phonemically voiced with three syllables: 'AN-i-line'. The 'i' in the middle is a short /ɪ/ and the final 'ine' contributes a long /iːn/ sound in most dialects. The key is maintaining the three-syllable rhythm and avoiding any elision of the tensed final vowel, ensuring the final 'leen' is clearly enunciated.
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