organochlorine

the term is a modern scientific compound, formed in the 20th century from the international scientific vocabulary combining form "organo-" and the element name "chlorine." "Organo-" derives ultimately from the greek 'organon', meaning a tool or instrument, which evolved in scientific language to denote substances related to living organs and, later, to carbon compounds. "chlorine" originates from the greek 'khlōros', describing its characteristic greenish-yellow color. the compound word "organochlorine" thus logically and literally denotes a carbon-containing compound in which chlorine atoms are bonded to carbon, a definition that directly reflects its modern chemical meaning, particularly for a class of synthetic pesticides and industrial chemicals.

Structure: organo (organic) + chlorine (chlorine) organo: from greek 'organon' (tool, instrument), via latin and modern scientific latin. in modern scientific terminology, it functions as a combining form meaning "organic" or "containing carbon." chlorine: from greek 'khlōros' (pale green), via modern latin 'chlorum'. it functions as the name of the chemical element.