Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle
The clue for today's crossword is "Banned hydrocarbon" and the answer is "DDT."
In order to understand why this clue has this answer, we need to break it down and analyze the elements involved:
- Banned: The word "banned" indicates that we are looking for something that is prohibited or not allowed. In the context of this clue, it is a crucial hint as it helps us narrow down the possibilities and focus on substances that have been banned.
- Hydrocarbon: A hydrocarbon is a compound made up of hydrogen and carbon. It is an essential concept in chemistry, and it immediately tells us that we are looking for a chemical substance.
Putting these two elements together, we can conclude that the answer must be a hydrocarbon that has been banned. This narrows down the possibilities quite a bit, as there are only a few hydrocarbons that have faced bans due to their harmful effects.
In this case, the answer fitting the clue is "DDT." DDT is an abbreviation for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. It is an organochlorine pesticide that was widely used in the past, particularly as an insecticide. However, due to its detrimental impact on the environment and potential health risks, its use was banned in many countries.
DDT gained notoriety for its persistence in the environment, its harmful effects on wildlife, and its ability to accumulate in the food chain. The ban on DDT has led to increased awareness about the negative consequences of certain chemical substances, and stricter regulations have been implemented to protect the environment and human health.
In summary, the clue "Banned hydrocarbon" points to the answer "DDT." This chemical compound, once widely used as an insecticide, was banned due to its harmful effects on the environment and potential health risks.
Definition of "DDT"
a synthetic organic compound used as an insecticide. Like other chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, DDT tends to persist in the environment and become concentrated in animals at the head of the food chain. Its use is now banned in many countries.
The Crossword clue "Banned hydrocarbon" published 2 time/s & has 1 answer/s.
Crossword | Date | Answer |
Wall Street Journal | 11 December 2021 | DDT |
Newsday.com | 28 December 2018 | DDT |