Online Chemistry Notes for Students
Compound Definition Compounds are those substances that are composed of many identical molecules and consist of two or more atoms from more than one element linked together by chemical bonds. Compounds are of different types depending on the type of chemical bonds present in them; ionic compounds linked by ionic bonds, covalent compounds linked by … Read more
Covalent bond Definition A covalent bond is a type of chemical bonding resulting from the mutual sharing of electrons between two atoms of the same or different elements. The bond is the electrostatic interaction between the electrons present in the orbit of one atom and the protons present in the nucleus of the other atom. … Read more
Colloid Definition A colloid is a mixture in which one of the soluble or insoluble particles is microscopically dispersed throughout the other substance. The colloid can be differentiated from a solution in that the solute and solvent in a solution are of the same phase, but a colloid has a dispersed phase and a continuous … Read more
Baking Soda Definition Baking soda is a chemical substance that is a salt composed of sodium and bicarbonate ions, primarily used as a leavening agent in baking. The chemical name of the substance is sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate with the chemical formula, NaHCO3. Baking soda is a solid white crystalline compound that exists … Read more
Cofactors Definition A cofactor is the non-protein part of an enzyme that is essential for the enzyme’s activity as a catalyst. Cofactors, together with the apoenzyme (protein component), form the complete enzyme (holoenzyme). The removal of the cofactor from an enzyme results in the loss of enzymatic activity. Cofactors can also be termed as helper … Read more
Amylase Definition Amylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch to form smaller sugar units by breaking down the glycosidic linkages between glucose units. Amylases are of two types; α-amylase and β-amylase that hydrolyze α- and β-linkages present in the starch molecule, respectively. Besides α- and β-amylases, a third group of amylases called … Read more
Amine Definition Amines are derivates of ammonia where one or more hydrogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atom are replaced by a substituent like and alkyl or aryl group to form organic compounds. Amines are important organic compounds as these form amino acids and proteins, which are basic building blocks of living systems. Inorganic derivatives … Read more
Aldoses Definition An aldose is a monosaccharide consisting of a carbon backbone and a carbonyl group at carbon-1, resulting in an aldehyde group. The general formula of aldoses is the same as most carbohydrates, Cn(H2O)n. The carbon atoms in the carbon backbone are each bonded to a hydroxyl group. All aldoses exhibit stereoisomerism as they … Read more
Atomic Mass Definition Atomic mass is the mass of an atom or an isotope which includes the total mass of the nucleus and the electrons present in the periphery. Most of the contribution is made by the nucleus as it contains the heavier subatomic particles, while lesser contributions are made by the electrons and nuclear … Read more
Atom Definition An atom is the smallest unit of matter composed of a nucleus and one or more electrons present around the nucleus. The atom is characteristic of the chemical element and is often considered the basic building block of chemistry. The atom consists of a large empty space while the rest is occupied by … Read more