Hyphenation ofpara-nitrophenol

Linguistic Analysis of "para-nitrophenol" (English - US)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "para-nitrophenol" is a complex chemical term. Its pronunciation follows standard English phonological rules, though the 'para-' prefix can sometimes be slightly reduced in casual speech.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets, is as follows: pa-ra-ni-tro-phe-nol.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: para- (Greek origin, meaning "beside," "near," or "similar to"). Morphological function: Indicates the position of the nitro group relative to the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring.
• Root: nitro- (Latin nitrum meaning "natron," a naturally occurring mixture of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate). Morphological function: Indicates the presence of a nitro functional group (-NO2).
• Suffix: -phenol (Greek phainein meaning "to show" + ol denoting an alcohol). Morphological function: Indicates a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a benzene ring.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: ni-tro-phe-nol. This is typical for words ending in -ol, and the prefix 'para-' is generally unstressed.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌpær.əˈnaɪ.troʊ.fiː.nɒl/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word and its technical origin mean that pronunciation can vary slightly depending on the speaker's familiarity with chemical nomenclature. However, the syllable division remains consistent.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Para-nitrophenol" primarily functions as a noun, specifically a chemical compound. As a noun, the stress pattern remains consistent. It does not typically function as other parts of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Para-nitrophenol is an organic compound with the formula C6H5NO3. It is a yellow crystalline solid used as an intermediate in the production of dyes, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: 4-Nitrophenol
• Antonyms: (Not applicable - it's a specific chemical compound)
• Examples:
  • "Para-nitrophenol is a common reagent in chemical synthesis."
  • "The solution turned yellow upon the addition of para-nitrophenol."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Phenol: phe-nol (/ˈfiː.nɒl/) - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second syllable.
• Nitrogen: ni-tro-gen (/ˈnaɪ.trə.dʒən/) - Shares the 'nitro-' component, stress on the first syllable.
• Paracetamol: pa-ra-ce-ta-mol (/ˌpær.əˈsiː.tæ.mɒl/) - Contains the 'para-' prefix, similar stress pattern.

The differences in stress placement are due to the length and complexity of the words. "Para-nitrophenol" has more syllables and a heavier final syllable, leading to stress on the penultimate syllable before the final syllable.

10. Division Rules:

• Onset Maximization: Syllables prefer to have as many consonants as possible in their onset (beginning).
• Vowel Nucleus: Each syllable must have a vowel nucleus.
• Sonority Sequencing: Consonants within a syllable are ordered by sonority (loudness), typically moving from less sonorous to more sonorous.

11. Special Considerations:

The 'para-' prefix is sometimes reduced to /pə/ in rapid speech, but this does not affect the syllable division. The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morphemic boundaries.