Polybrominating

Part of speech: verb, adjective

Definitions

1. Introducing two or more bromine atoms into a chemical compound through a substitution or addition reaction
2. Attaching multiple bromine substituents to an organic molecule by chemical means
3. The process of inserting several bromine atoms into the structure of a chemical substance

Etymology: Bromine, the dark red liquid element at the root of this word, takes its name from the Greek "brômos," meaning "stench," a nod to its sharp, unpleasant smell. From the element came a family of chemical verbs: to "brominate" a compound is to add bromine to it, usually by swapping hydrogen atoms for bromine atoms. The prefix "poly-" comes from the Greek "polys," meaning "many," the same root found in "polymer" and "polygon." Attached to "brominate," it describes adding several bromine atoms to a single molecule. The "-ing" ending turns the verb into a participle that can also work as an adjective, as in the names of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, flame retardants built on the same pattern.