mercaptan noun.
[mǝ'kapt(ǝ)n] M19.[from mod. Latin (corpus) mercurium captans lit. 'seizing mercury'.]Chemistry. Any of a series of organic compounds containing a sulphydryl group,
SH, many of which have a strong, unpleasant odour; a thioalcohol, a thiol.
■ mercaptide noun a salt of a mercaptan, containing the anion RS where R is an alkyl or aryl group M19. [TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲