Specialist dictionary

Organic chemistry

Carbon compounds, structures and reactions.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Acetylenenoun

a colorless flammable gas used chiefly in welding and in organic synthesis

Aldehydenoun

any of a class of highly reactive chemical compounds; used in making resins and dyes and organic acids

Alkynenoun

a colorless flammable gas used chiefly in welding and in organic synthesis

Amidenoun

any organic compound containing the group -CONH2

Aminenoun

a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals

Aminoalkanenoun

a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals

Aromatic compoundnoun

a hydrocarbon containing one or more benzene rings that are characteristic of the benzene series of compounds

Carboxylic acidnoun

an organic acid characterized by one or more carboxyl groups

Esternoun

organic compound formed by reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water

Ethynenoun

a colorless flammable gas used chiefly in welding and in organic synthesis

Hydrocarbonnoun

an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen

Isomernoun

a compound that exists in forms having different arrangements of atoms but the same molecular weight

Ketonenoun

any of a class of organic compounds having a carbonyl group linked to a carbon atom in each of two hydrocarbon radicals

Oxidationnoun

the process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction

Oxidisationnoun

the process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction

Oxidizationnoun

the process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction

Polymernoun

a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers

Stereoisomernoun

any of a group of isomers in which atoms are linked in the same order but differ in their spatial arrangement.; "A configurational stereoisomer…

Ethernoun

any of a class of organic compounds that have two hydrocarbon groups linked by an oxygen atom

Acetaldehydenoun

a colorless volatile water-soluble liquid aldehyde used chiefly in the manufacture of acetic acid and perfumes and drugs

Acetamidenoun

a colorless solid amide of acetic acid used as a solvent and in the synthesis of organic compounds

Acetic acidnoun

a colorless pungent liquid widely used in manufacturing plastics and pharmaceuticals

Acetonenoun

the simplest ketone; a highly flammable liquid widely used as an organic solvent and as material for making plastics

Acetone bodynoun

a ketone that is an intermediate product of the breakdown of fats in the body; any of three compounds (acetoacetic acid, acetone, and/or beta-hy…

Acroleinnoun

a pungent colorless unsaturated liquid aldehyde made from propene

Acrylamidenoun

a white crystalline amide of propenoic acid can damage the nervous system and is carcinogenic in laboratory animals; "they claimed that acrylami…

Acrylic acidnoun

an unsaturated liquid carboxylic acid used in the manufacture of acrylic resins

Adipic acidnoun

a carboxylic acid used in the manufacture of nylon

Aminobenzinenoun

oily poisonous liquid amine obtained from nitrobenzene and used to make dyes and plastics and medicines

Anilinenoun

oily poisonous liquid amine obtained from nitrobenzene and used to make dyes and plastics and medicines

Aniline oilnoun

oily poisonous liquid amine obtained from nitrobenzene and used to make dyes and plastics and medicines

Aromatic hydrocarbonnoun

a hydrocarbon that contains one or more benzene rings that are characteristic of the benzene series of organic compounds

Banana oilnoun

a liquid ester derived from amyl alcohol; has the odor of bananas

Basenoun

a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)

Benzoic acidnoun

a white crystalline solid occurring in many resins

Bitumennoun

any of various naturally occurring impure mixtures of hydrocarbons

Bottled gasnoun

hydrocarbon gases, usually propane or butane, kept under pressure

Burningnoun

a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light

Butadienenoun

a gaseous hydrocarbon C4H6; used in making synthetic rubbers

Butanonenoun

colorless soluble flammable liquid ketone used as a solvent for resins and as a paint remover and in lacquers and cements and adhesives and clea…

C2H6noun

a colorless odorless alkane gas used as fuel

Calcinationnoun

the conversion of metals into their oxides as a result of heating to a high temperature

Cellulose esternoun

any ester of cellulose with an acid

Chlorobenzenenoun

a colorless volatile flammable liquid with an almond odor that is made from chlorine and benzene; used as a solvent and in the production of phe…

Citratenoun

a salt or ester of citric acid

Coal oilnoun

a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters

Combustionnoun

a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light

Configurational isomernoun

a stereoisomer that can be interconverted only by breaking covalent bonds to the stereocenter.

Copolymernoun

a polymer consisting of two or more different monomers

Cyclohexanol phthalatenoun

the cyclohexanol ester of phthalic acid

Cymenenoun

any of three isotopes of a colorless aromatic liquid hydrocarbon occurring in the volatile oil of cumin and thyme and used in the manufacture of…

Decanedioic acidnoun

a dicarboxylic acid used to make resins

Deoxyribonucleic acidnoun

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with…

Desoxyribonucleic acidnoun

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with…

Dicarboxylic acidnoun

an organic compound containing two carboxyl functional groups (-COOH).; "The most widely used dicarboxylic acid in the industry is adipic acid,…

Dimethyl ketonenoun

the simplest ketone; a highly flammable liquid widely used as an organic solvent and as material for making plastics

Dioxinnoun

any of several toxic or carcinogenic hydrocarbons that occur as impurities in herbicides

DNAnoun

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with…

Enaminenoun

an amine containing the double bond linkage -C=C-N-

Ethanalnoun

a colorless volatile water-soluble liquid aldehyde used chiefly in the manufacture of acetic acid and perfumes and drugs

Ethanal trimernoun

a colorless liquid (a cyclic trimer of acetaldehyde) that is used as a sedative and a solvent

Ethanamidenoun

a colorless solid amide of acetic acid used as a solvent and in the synthesis of organic compounds

Ethanenoun

a colorless odorless alkane gas used as fuel

Ethanoic acidnoun

a colorless pungent liquid widely used in manufacturing plastics and pharmaceuticals

Ethyl acetatenoun

a fragrant colorless flammable volatile liquid ester made from ethanol and acetic acid; used in flavorings and perfumes and as a solvent for pla…

Fatty acidnoun

any of a class of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids that form part of a lipid molecule and can be derived from fat by hydrolysis; fatty acids are s…

Flavinnoun

a ketone that forms the nucleus of certain natural yellow pigments like riboflavin

Formaldehydenoun

a colorless poisonous gas; made by the oxidation of methanol

Furfuralnoun

a liquid aldehyde with a penetrating odor; made from plant hulls and corncobs; used in making furan and as a solvent

Furfuraldehydenoun

a liquid aldehyde with a penetrating odor; made from plant hulls and corncobs; used in making furan and as a solvent

Gasnoun

a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-comb…

Gas oilnoun

an oil formed through distillation of petroleum of intermediate boiling range and viscosity

Gasoholnoun

a gasoline substitute consisting of 90% gasoline and 10% grain alcohol from corn

Gasolenenoun

a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-comb…

Gasolinenoun

a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-comb…

Geometric isomernoun

a chemical compound which has the same molecular formula as another but differs in geometric configuration.

Glyceraldehydenoun

a sweet crystalline aldehyde formed by the breakdown of sugars

Glyceric aldehydenoun

a sweet crystalline aldehyde formed by the breakdown of sugars

Glyceryl esternoun

an ester of glycerol

Hexanedioic acidnoun

a carboxylic acid used in the manufacture of nylon

Hexinenoun

a hydrocarbon, C6H10, of the acetylene series.; "Hexine is obtained artificially as a colorless, volatile liquid."

Histaminenoun

amine formed from histidine that stimulates gastric secretions and dilates blood vessels; released by the human immune system during allergic re…

Indenenoun

a colorless liquid hydrocarbon extracted from petroleum or coal tar and used in making synthetic resins

Kerosenenoun

a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters

Kerosinenoun

a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters

Ketone bodynoun

a ketone that is an intermediate product of the breakdown of fats in the body; any of three compounds (acetoacetic acid, acetone, and/or beta-hy…

Lactatenoun

a salt or ester of lactic acid

Lactic acidnoun

a clear odorless hygroscopic syrupy carboxylic acid found in sour milk and in many fruits

Lactonenoun

a cyclic intramolecular ester derived from a hydroxy acid.; "Lactones are formed by intramolecular esterification of the corresponding hydroxyca…

Lamp oilnoun

a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters

Ligninnoun

a complex polymer; the chief constituent of wood other than carbohydrates; binds to cellulose fibers to harden and strengthen cell walls of plan…

Liquefied petroleum gasnoun

hydrocarbon gases, usually propane or butane, kept under pressure

Maleatenoun

a salt or ester of maleic acid; used as a nontricyclic antidepressant drug for psychomotor activation

Metabolic indicannoun

an ester with the chemical formula C8H7NO4S, produced in human body.; "Urinary indican is produced in liver and excreted with urine."

Methanalnoun

a colorless poisonous gas; made by the oxidation of methanol

Methyl ethyl ketonenoun

colorless soluble flammable liquid ketone used as a solvent for resins and as a paint remover and in lacquers and cements and adhesives and clea…

Monoaminenoun

a molecule containing one amine group (especially one that is a neurotransmitter)

Mucic acidnoun

a solid acid (C6H10O8) found in milk or sugar

Naphthanoun

any of various volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures; used chiefly as solvents

Naphthalenenoun

a white crystalline strong-smelling hydrocarbon made from coal tar or petroleum and used in organic synthesis and as a fumigant in mothballs

Nitrificationnoun

the oxidation of ammonium compounds in dead organic material into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria (making nitrogen available to plants)

Nucleotidenoun

a phosphoric ester of a nucleoside; the basic structural unit of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)

Octanenoun

any isomeric saturated hydrocarbon found in petroleum and used as a fuel and solvent

Octanedioic acidnoun

a dicarboxylic acid found in cork

Optical isomernoun

one of two stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other that are non-superposable (not identical).

Paraldehydenoun

a colorless liquid (a cyclic trimer of acetaldehyde) that is used as a sedative and a solvent

Pentanoic acidnoun

a clear liquid carboxylic acid used in perfumes and drugs

Peptidenoun

amide combining the amino group of one amino acid with the carboxyl group of another; usually obtained by partial hydrolysis of protein

Petrolnoun

a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-comb…

Phenylaminenoun

oily poisonous liquid amine obtained from nitrobenzene and used to make dyes and plastics and medicines

Polyamidenoun

a polymer containing repeated amide groups

Polyesternoun

a complex ester used for making fibers or resins or plastics or as a plasticizer

Polymeric amidenoun

a polymer containing repeated amide groups

Polyurethannoun

any of various polymers containing the urethane radical; a wide variety of synthetic forms are made and used as adhesives or plastics or paints…

Polyurethanenoun

any of various polymers containing the urethane radical; a wide variety of synthetic forms are made and used as adhesives or plastics or paints…

Propanalnoun

a colorless liquid aldehyde

Propanamidenoun

the amide of propionic acid (C2H5CONH2)

Propanoic acidnoun

a liquid fatty acid found in milk and sweat and in fuel distillates

Propanonenoun

the simplest ketone; a highly flammable liquid widely used as an organic solvent and as material for making plastics

Propenalnoun

a pungent colorless unsaturated liquid aldehyde made from propene