F324 Definitions

The process that occurs when a gas, liquid or solute is held to the surface of a solid, more rarely a liquid.

A measure of the attraction of a bonded atom for the pair of the electrons in a covalent bond.

A species formed in one step and used up in a subsequent step and so never seen as either a reactant or a product.

An atom (or group of atoms) which donates a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond.

An atom (or group of atoms) that accepts a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond.

A polymer which is formed by an addition reaction, where many monomers bond together via rearrangement of bonds (double => single) without the loss of any atom or molecule.

A polymer formed by the joining up of monomers by means of a condensation reaction. Examples: proteins, polyamides, polyesters.

A reaction in which two monomers react together to form a larger polymer with the elimination of a small molecule such as water.

A type of stereoisomerism in which different groups attached to each carbon of a C=C double bond may be arranged differently in space because of the absence of rotation around the C=C bond. E or Trans - across the double bond Z or cis - same side of the double bond

The reaction of an alcohol with a carboxylic acid to produce an ester and water.

A compound such as AlCl₃ or FeBr₃ that can catalyse the halogenation of arenes. They produce a stronger electrophile by polarising the halogen molecule to produce a Cl+ or Br+ electrophile.

A reaction with water that breaks a compound into two smaller compounds. Usually carried out under acidic or basic conditions, with slightly different products.

The pH at which an amino acid exists mainly as zwitterion. The pH at which the overall charge of the amino acid is 0.

The phase (gas or liquid) that moves in chromatography.

A small molecule that combines with many other monomers to form a polymer.

Stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other.

A compound containing amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Often the number of amino acids is indicated by the prefix, di-, tri-, tetra-.

The beneficial or adverse effects of a drug on living matter.

An arene that contains a hydroxyl (-OH) group directly bonded to one of the carbons in the aromatic ring. Phenol is both a compound (C₆H₅OH) and a functional group. Most phenols have antibacterial activity.

The part of a double bond formed above and below the plane of the bonded atoms by sideways overlapping p-orbitals.

A long molecular chain built up from monomer units.

A polypeptide (amino acid polymer) with more than 40 or so monomers.

The continuous boiling and condensing of a reaction mixture to ensure that the reaction takes place without the contents of the flask boiling away.

A specific arrangement of atoms that occurs in the structure of a polymer over and over again. Repeat units are included in brackets, outside which is the symbol n.