Online Chemistry Notes for Students
Organic Compounds Definition Organic compounds are chemical compounds composed of one or more carbon atoms bonded to other elements like hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen. Organic compounds consist of multiple carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bonds that hold the structures together. Organic compounds are the result of the catenation property of carbon atoms as they can form chains … Read more
Ester Definition An ester is a group of organic compounds that are derived from organic acids where at least one –OH group is replaced by an -O- group. The functional group in ester is the ester group (COOR) which is usually formed as a result of a substitution reaction between carboxylic acids and organic alcohols. … Read more
Ethanol Definition Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is the primary alcohol that is formed by the substitution of a hydrogen atom in the alkane, ethane by a hydroxyl group. It is an organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with the molecular formula C2H5OH. The formula can be written as CH3-CH2-OH. It is a highly … Read more
Covalent Bond Definition A covalent bond is a type of linkage between the atoms of the same or different elements as a result of the mutual sharing of electrons. The bond is formed as a result of the electrostatic force of attraction between the nuclei and the electrons. Covalent bonds are formed by the sharing … 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
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
Aromatic Compounds Aromatic compounds are compounds that belong to a large class of unsaturated chemical compounds that are defined by the presence of one or more planar rings of atoms linked together by covalent bonds. The stability of aromatic compounds is referred to as the aromaticity of the compounds as a result of the delocalization … Read more
Aldehyde Definition An aldehyde is a type of organic compound containing the functional group with the structure –CHO, where the carbon double-bonded to oxygen is termed the carbonyl group. Aldehydes are generally formed by the removal of a hydrogen atom from an alcohol compound. The chemical formula of aldehyde is R-CHO where the carbon atom … Read more
Definition of Lewis Acids and Bases Gilbert Newton Lewis (American, 1923) put forward a broader concept of acids and bases on the basis of electron transfer. This concept is called the Lewis concept. Lewis’s concept eliminates the necessity of the presence of hydrogen in acid, and it accepts not only Arrhenius and Bronsted-Lowry concept but … Read more