metaxylene

English

Etymology

meta- +‎ xylene

Noun

metaxylene (countable and uncountable, plural metaxylenes)

1. (organic chemistry) That variety of xylene, or dimethyl benzene, in which the two methyl groups occupy the meta position with reference to each other. It is a colourless inflammable liquid.
   • 1883, “Journal of the Chemical Society”, in Chemical Society, volume 44, Great Britain, page 589:

     The acid is decomposed by strong hydrochloric acid at 210°, yielding xylylic acid and metaxylene.