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Chemistry terms glossary page 10
Chemistry terms explained in plain English. 1,714 words and meanings, most familiar first.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| palmitate noun | Any salt or ester of palmitic acid |
| pantothenate noun | Any salt or ester of pantothenic acid. |
| paraquat noun | A poisonous yellow herbicide derived from bipyridine |
| passivate verb | To reduce the chemical reactivity of a surface by applying a coating |
| passivation noun | The process of making a material passive (non-reactive) in relation to another material prior to using the materials together. |
| pectate noun | A salt of pectic acid. |
| pentapeptide noun | An oligopeptide formed from five amino acids. |
| pentavalent adjective | Having an atomic valence of 5. |
| pentyl noun | Any of several isomeric univalent hydrocarbon radicals, C5H11, formally derived from pentane by the loss of a hydrogen atom. |
| pepsinogen noun | A zymogen that is converted into pepsin by the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. |
| peptide noun | The peptide bond itself. |
| peptidoglycan noun | A polymer of glycan and peptides found in bacterial cell walls |
| peptone noun | Any water-soluble mixture of polypeptides and amino acids formed by the partial hydrolysis of protein. |
| peracid noun | Any acid that contains a peroxy group - e.g. peracetic acid |
| perchlorate noun | Any salt of perchloric acid; used in pyrotechnics and as powerful oxidizing agents. |
| pericyclic adjective | Of or relating to a pericyclic reaction |
| peroxy noun | The divalent radical -O-O- derived from a peroxide |
| persalt noun | The form of a salt of a particular base/acid combination in which the base has the highest valency; i.e. the salt formally derived from a peroxide. |
| phenate noun | Any salt or ester of phenol (when considered as an acid) |
| phenetol noun | The ethyl ether of phenol, obtained as an aromatic liquid, C6H5.O.C2H5. |
| phenolate noun | Phenoxide |
| phenolphthalein noun | A white or yellowish-white crystalline compound C20H14O4 used in medicine as a laxative and in analysis as an indicator because its solution is brilliant red in alkalies and is decolorized by acids. |
| phenoxide noun | Any metallic salt of a phenol |
| phenyl noun | A univalent hydrocarbon radical (C6H5) formally derived from benzene by the removal of a hydrogen atom, and the basis of an immense number of aromatic derivatives. |
| phenylic adjective | Pertaining to, derived from, or containing phenyl. |
| phlogistic adjective | Pertaining to or containing phlogiston. |
| phosphatide noun | A phospholipid |
| phosphatidic adjective | Of or pertaining to a phosphatide |
| phosphatidyl noun | A radical derived from a phosphatide |
| phosphatidylcholine noun | The phospholipid phosphatidyl choline |
| phosphide noun | Any binary compound of phosphorus, especially one in oxidation state −3. |
| phosphite noun | Any salt or ester of phosphorous acid |
| phosphocreatine noun | A phosphorylated derivative of creatine that is used in muscles to store chemical energy |
| phosphoglycerate noun | Glycerophosphate |
| phosphomonoesterase noun | A phosphoric monoester hydrolase; an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of O-P bonds by nucleophilic attack of phosphorus by cysteine residues or coordinated metal ions. |
| phosphonium noun | The tetravalent positively-charged phosphorus cation R4P+ |
| phosphor noun | Any of various compounds of transition metals or of rare earths that exhibit phosphorescence. |
| phosphorolysis noun | Any reaction, akin to hydrolysis, in which a bond is broken by the action of phosphoric acid or phosphate. |
| phosphoryl noun | The trivalent radical O=P≡ |
| phosphorylated adjective | Reacted or combined with phosphoric acid |
| phosphorylation noun | The process of transferring a phosphate group from a donor to an acceptor; often catalysed by enzymes. |
| photochemist noun | A chemist whose speciality is photochemistry |
| photochemistry noun | The study of photochemical reactions. |
| photochromic adjective | Relating to the part of a molecule responsible for its photochromism |
| photodecomposition noun | Any photochemical reaction that results in the decomposition of a substance |
| photodissociation noun | The dissociation of a molecule following the absorption of a photon |
| photolysis noun | Any chemical reaction in which a compound is decomposed after absorbing a photon |
| photooxidation noun | The loss of an electron from a photoexcited species |
| photophosphorylation noun | Photosynthetic phosphorylation |
| photopolymer noun | Any polymer that reacts to light with a physical or chemical change, used especially for teeth fillings |
| photoproduct noun | Any product of a photochemical reaction. |
| photoproduction noun | The production of a molecular species (e.g. a radical or ion) by means of light |
| photoreduction noun | The addition of an electron to a photoexcited species |
| photosensitization noun | The transfer of a photon from one excited state to another, which then undergoes a reaction |
| photosensitizer noun | A molecular or atomic species that initiates a photochemical reaction |
| photostatic adjective | Relating to photostasis |
| photosynthate noun | Any compound that is a product of photosynthesis. |
| phthalic adjective | Of, relating to, or derived from naphthalene or phthalic acid |
| phthalin noun | A colourless crystalline substance obtained by reduction from phthalein, into which it is easily converted by oxidation. |
| phycocyanin noun | A pigment from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, along with allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin, an accessory pigment to chlorophyll. |
| physostigmine noun | A parasympathomimetic, a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor alkaloid of the Calabar bean, used to treat certain medical conditions. |
| phytochemistry noun | The scientific study of the chemicals found in plants. |
| phytochrome noun | Any of a class of pigments that control most photomorphogenic responses in higher plants |
| phytohemagglutinin noun | Any hemagglutinin (lectin) of plant origin, but especially that found in many beans that has a physiological action |
| phytotoxic adjective | Characteristic of a phytotoxin. |
| picrate noun | Any salt or ester of picric acid |
| pilocarpine noun | A miotic alkaloid C11H16N2O2 obtained from jaborandi that is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride or nitrate especially in the treatment of glaucoma. |
| pinite noun | A sweet white crystalline substance extracted from the gum of a species of pine (Pinus lambertiana, sugar pine), isomeric with quercite. |
| piperazine noun | Any derivative of this compound |
| plasminogen noun | The inactive precursor to plasmin; profibrinolysin |
| platinocyanide noun | Any of several salts containing the anion Pt(CN)42- |
| plumbous adjective | Of, pertaining to, resembling or containing lead. |
| polarimetry noun | Analysis using a polarimeter |
| polarography noun | An electrochemical technique for the analysis of redox reactions. |
| polyacrylonitrile noun | Any polymer or copolymer of acrylonitrile; they are mostly resins that are used to make fibers for fabrics |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| polyalcohol noun | An alcohol containing many hydroxy groups (typically more than two) |
| polyamide noun | Any of a range of polymers containing amide (or peptide) repeat units; examples include proteins and nylon. |
| polyamine noun | Any compound having many (more than three) amino functional groups; especially such compounds formed by decomposition of proteins |
| polyatomic adjective | (of a molecule or ion) Consisting of three or more atoms. |
| polycarbonate noun | Any of a range of polymers of aromatic carbonates; they are used to make light, flexible alternatives to glass. Abbreviation: PC |
| polycondensation noun | Any condensation reaction, of a monomer having two functional groups, which leads to the formation of a polymer (a polycondensate). |
| polycyclic adjective | Having two or more rings of atoms in the molecule. |
| polyene noun | An organic compound containing several double bonds, especially one containing a sequence of many alternating single and double bonds |
| polyenic adjective | Of or pertaining to a polyene. |
| polyesterification noun | Any reaction which generates a polyester |
| polyhydroxy adjective | Having three or more hydroxy functional groups. |
| polymeric adjective | Of, relating to, or consisting of a polymer. Examples of such compounds include polyurethane foams, PVC foams, and styrofoam. |
| polymerism noun | The state, quality, or relation of two or more polymeric substances. |
| polynuclear adjective | Polycyclic |
| polynucleotide noun | A polymeric macromolecule composed of many nucleotides; examples include DNA and RNA |
| polypeptide noun | Any polymer of (same or different) amino acids joined via peptide bonds. |
| polyphenol noun | Any of a large class of organic compounds, of plant origin, having more than one phenol group; they tend to be colourful and to have antioxidant properties |
| polyribonucleotide noun | A biological macromolecule consisting of multiple ribonucleotides |
| polyribosome noun | A cluster of ribosomes, connected by mRNA, that collectively synthesizes protein |
| polysulfide noun | Any compound of general formula RSnR having a chain of more than two sulfur atoms; any derivative of a polysulfane. |
| polyunsaturated adjective | Of or relating to long chain organic compounds that have multiple double bonds; polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential to human nutrition. |
| polyurethane noun | Any of various polymeric resins containing urethane links; used in very many industrial and domestic applications. |
| polyvinyl adjective | Composed of, or derived from, many vinyl groups |
| positronium noun | An exotic atom (specifically, an onium) consisting of a positron (anti-electron) and an electron, as a particle–anti-particle bound pair with no nucleus. |
| potassic adjective | Containing potassium. |
| proenzyme noun | Any inactive precursor of an enzyme that is converted to an enzyme by proteolysis; a zymogen |
| prolamine noun | Any of a class of proteins, high in proline, found in the seeds of cereals |
| propenyl noun | A radical of propene (propylene). |
| propionate noun | Any salt or ester of propionic acid |
| propyl noun | Either of two isomeric univalent hydrocarbon radicals, C3H7, formally derived from propane by the loss of a hydrogen atom. |
| propylic adjective | Propyl (attributive) |
| prostaglandin noun | Any of a group of naturally occurring lipids derived from the C20 acid prostanoic acid; they have a number of physiological functions and may be considered to be hormones. |
| proteide noun | A compound consisting of a protein bound to another non-protein molecule. |
| proteolysis noun | The hydrolysis of proteins into peptides and amino acids, especially as part of the digestion of food. |
| proteolytic adjective | Of, relating to, or promoting proteolysis |
| protonate verb | To add one or more protons to (a molecule, ion or radical). |
| protonation noun | The addition of a proton (hydrogen ion) to an atom, molecule or ion, normally to generate a cation. |
| protoporphyrin noun | Any porphyrin that lacks a central metal ion |
| provitamin noun | Any biologically inactive compound that may be converted into a vitamin within an animal organism |
| psilocybin noun | A hallucinogenic alkaloid, C12H15N2O·H2PO3, present in several species of Central American mushroom and producing effects similar to LSD. The prodrug of psilocin. |
| purpuric adjective | Purple in colour; derived from or forming a substance which is purple; especially: |
| purpurin noun | A protein of the lipocalin family |
| pyranoid adjective | Of, pertaining to, or having the structure of a pyranose |
| pyranose noun | Any cyclic hemiacetal form of a monosaccharide having a six-membered ring (based on tetrahydropyran) |
| pyrene noun | A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon containing four fused benzene rings; first isolated from coal tar |
| pyrethroid noun | Any of several synthetic insecticides having a structure based on pyrethrin. |
| pyridoxal noun | One of the three natural forms of vitamin B6 |
| pyridoxamine noun | A constituent of vitamin B6, essential for the metabolism of starch and amino acids. |
| pyrogenicity noun | The condition or extent of being pyrogenic. |
| pyrolysate noun | Any product of pyrolysis |
| pyrolysis noun | The decomposition of a material or compound due to heat, in the absence of oxygen or other reagents. |
| pyrolytic adjective | Of, relating to, or produced by pyrolysis. |
| pyrrolic adjective | Pertaining to, or having a structure based on, a pyrrole |
| pyruvate noun | A salt or ester of pyruvic acid. |
| quadrivalent adjective | Having a valence of four |
| quercetin noun | A flavonol found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves and grains. |
| quinate noun | An ester or a salt of quinic acid. |
| quinoid adjective | Having a structure based upon a quinone. |
| quinonoid adjective | Of, relating to, or having the structure of a quinone |
| racemate noun | A racemic mixture |
| racemic adjective | Containing equal amounts of dextrorotatory (+) and levorotatory (−) stereoisomers and therefore not being optically active |
| racemism noun | The property of being racemic. |
| racemization noun | The formation of a racemate from a pure enantiomer. |
| racemize verb | To convert (an enantiomer) into a racemic mixture. |
| radiobiology noun | The use of radioactive labels to study biological processes |
| radiochemical adjective | Of or pertaining to radiochemistry |
| radiochemistry noun | The chemistry of radioactive substances |
| radiolysis noun | The dissociation of a molecule as a result of radiation |
| reactant noun | Any of the participants present at the start of a chemical reaction, specifically one that is consumed during the reaction. |
| reactively adverb | In relation to or by means of a reaction. |
| reagent noun | A compound or mixture of compounds used to treat or test materials, samples, other compounds or reactants in a laboratory or sometimes an industrial setting. |
| reagin noun | An antibody. |
| recrystallization noun | A technique for the purification of chemical compounds in which the compound is dissolved in a solvent and slowly cooled to form crystals |
| reguline adjective | Of or pertaining to regulus. |
| relaxin noun | A peptide hormone of the insulin superfamily. |
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources