X to Xylitone
X
(X) X, the twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet, has three sounds; a compound nonvocal sound
(that of ks), as in wax; a compound vocal sound (that of gz), as in example; and, at the beginning of a
word, a simple vocal sound as in xanthic. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 217, 270, 271.
The form and value of X are from the Latin X, which is from the Greek Χ, which in some Greek
alphabets had the value of ks, though in the one now in common use it represents an aspirated sound
of k.
Xanthamide
(Xanth*am"ide) n. [Xanthic + amide.] (Chem.) An amido derivative of xanthic acid obtained
as a white crystalline substance, C2H5O.CS.NH2; — called also xanthogen amide.
Xanthate
(Xan"thate) n. [See Xanthic.] (Chem.) A salt of xanthic; a xanthogenate.
Xanthelasma
(||Xan`the*las"ma) n. [NL.; Gr. xanqo`s yellow + 'e`lasma a metal plate.] (Med.) See
Xanthoma.
Xanthian
(Xan"thi*an) a. Of or pertaining to Xanthus, an ancient town on Asia Minor; — applied especially
to certain marbles found near that place, and now in the British Museum.
Xanthic
(Xan"thic) a. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow: cf. F. xanthique.]
1. Tending toward a yellow color, or to one of those colors, green being excepted, in which yellow is a
constituent, as scarlet, orange, etc.
2. (Chem.) (a) Possessing, imparting, or producing a yellow color; as, xanthic acid. (b) Of or pertaining
to xanthic acid, or its compounds; xanthogenic. (c) Of or pertaining to xanthin.
Xanthic acid (Chem.), a heavy, astringent, colorless oil, C2H5O.CS.SH, having a pungent odor. It is
produced by leading carbon disulphide into a hot alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. So called
from the yellow color of many of its salts. Called also xanthogenic acid. — Xanthic colors (Bot.),
those colors (of flowers) having some tinge of yellow; — opposed to cyanic colors. See under Cyanic.
Xanthide
(Xan"thide) n. [See Xantho-.] (Chem.) A compound or derivative of xanthogen. [Archaic]
Xanthidium
(||Xan*thid"i*um) n.; pl. Xanthidia [NL., fr. Gr. xanqo`s yellow.] (Bot.) A genus of minute
unicellular algæ of the desmids. These algæ have a rounded shape and are armed with glochidiate or branched
aculei. Several species occur in ditches, and others are found fossil in flint or hornstone.
Xanthin
(Xan"thin) n. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow.]
1. (Physiol. Chem.) A crystalline nitrogenous body closely related to both uric acid and hypoxanthin,
present in muscle tissue, and occasionally found in the urine and in some urinary calculi. It is also present
in guano. So called from the yellow color of certain of its salts
2. (Chem.) A yellow insoluble coloring matter extracted from yellow flowers; specifically, the coloring
matter of madder. [Formerly written also xanthein.]
3. (Chem.) One of the gaseous or volatile decomposition products of the xanthates, and probably identical
with carbon disulphide. [Obs.]
Xanthinine
(Xan"thi*nine) n. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow + quinine.] (Chem.) A complex nitrogenous substance
related to urea and uric acid, produced as a white powder; — so called because it forms yellow salts,
and because its solution forms a blue fluorescence like quinine.
