What is "bisphenol"

n. (context organic compound English) Any of a class of organic compounds, derived from methylenediphenol, CH₂(C₆H₄OH)₂, formed by the condensation of a phenol with an aldehyde or ketone.

The bisphenols (pronounced ) are a group of chemical compounds with two hydroxyphenyl functionalities. Most of them are based on diphenylmethane. The exceptions are bisphenol S, P, and M. "Bisphenol" is a common name; the letter following refers to one of the reactants. Bisphenol A is the most popular representative of this group, often simply called "bisphenol."