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Affixes: the building blocks of English
Affixes: the building blocks of English
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benz(o)-

Benzene.

[The first part of English benzoic plus -o-, from gum benzoin, based on Arabic lubānjāwī, incense of Java.]

This indicates compounds that contain a six-membered ring of carbon atoms, a derivative of benzene. Examples include benzaldehyde, a colourless liquid aldehyde smelling of bitter almonds, used to make dyes and perfumes; benzodiazepine, a member of a group of tranquillizers, such as Librium or Valium; benzopyrene, the major carcinogen present in cigarette smoke; and benzoquinone, a yellow crystalline compound.

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