Article
Article
- Chemistry
- Physical chemistry
- Inhibitor (chemistry)
Inhibitor (chemistry)
Article By:
Mahoney, Lee R. Department of Chemistry, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.344900
- Inhibition of vinyl polymerization
- Inhibition of corrosion
- Related Primary Literature
- Additional Reading
A substance which is capable of stopping or retarding a chemical reaction. To be technically useful, such compounds must be effective in low concentrations, usually under 1%. The type of reaction which is most easily inhibited is the free-radical chain reaction. The study of inhibitor action is often used as a diagnostic test for free-radical chain character of a reaction. Vinyl polymerization and autoxidation are two important examples of the class. Another reaction type for which inhibitors have been found is corrosion, particularly in aqueous systems. The economic importance of corrosion inhibition can scarcely be overestimated. An understanding of inhibitor action depends on an understanding of the processes to be interrupted.
The content above is only an excerpt.
for your institution. Subscribe
To learn more about subscribing to AccessScience, or to request a no-risk trial of this award-winning scientific reference for your institution, fill in your information and a member of our Sales Team will contact you as soon as possible.
to your librarian. Recommend
Let your librarian know about the award-winning gateway to the most trustworthy and accurate scientific information.
About AccessScience
AccessScience provides the most accurate and trustworthy scientific information available.
Recognized as an award-winning gateway to scientific knowledge, AccessScience is an amazing online resource that contains high-quality reference material written specifically for students. Contributors include more than 10,000 highly qualified scientists and 46 Nobel Prize winners.
MORE THAN 8700 articles covering all major scientific disciplines and encompassing the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology and McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology
115,000-PLUS definitions from the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms
3000 biographies of notable scientific figures
MORE THAN 19,000 downloadable images and animations illustrating key topics
ENGAGING VIDEOS highlighting the life and work of award-winning scientists
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY and additional readings to guide students to deeper understanding and research
LINKS TO CITABLE LITERATURE help students expand their knowledge using primary sources of information