polysulfide

noun

poly·​sul·​fide ˌpä-lē-ˈsəl-ˌfīd How to pronounce polysulfide (audio)
: a sulfide containing two or more atoms of sulfur in the molecule

Examples of polysulfide in a Sentence

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As the battery discharges, sulfur at the cathode side reacts with the lithium, creating lithium polysulfides which diffuse through the electrolyte to the anode leaving deposits. — New Atlas, 6 Dec. 2024 While charging, some polysulfides would migrate back to the cathode, but not all, degrading the battery very quickly. — New Atlas, 6 Dec. 2024 While the battery discharges, the sulfur is reduced to polysulfide, and the sodium is oxidized; this process is reversed during charging. — Kat Friedrich, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024 This is because the sulfur disintegrates in the electrolyte liquid in which the lithium and sulfur electrodes both sit, dissolving to form sulfurous molecules called polysulfides. — IEEE Spectrum, 15 Jan. 2015 These compounds grab onto and chemically bond with polysulfides, preventing them from leaking into the electrolyte. — IEEE Spectrum, 15 Jan. 2015

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polysulfide was in 1849

Rhymes for polysulfide

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Browse Nearby Words

polystyrene
polysulfide
polysulfide rubber
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Cite this Entry

“Polysulfide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polysulfide. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polysulfide

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