Organic Chemistry Terms Starting with M
Definitions of 38 organic chemistry terms that start with M, such as λmax, Magnetic Moment, Malonic Ester Synthesis. Plain-language explanations linked to…
Terms starting with M
- λmax: Wavelength where a substance has maximum absorbance.
- Magnetic Moment: Measure of magnetic behavior caused by charges/electrons.
- Malonic Ester Synthesis: Method for making substituted carboxylic acids using malonate chemistry.
- Markovnikov Addition: In many additions of HX-like reagents to unsymmetrical alkenes, H goes to the carbon already bearing more H, while the other group goes to the more substituted carbon.
- Mass Spectrometer: Instrument that separates/detects ions according to m/z.
- Mass Spectrometry: Technique used to study molecular mass and fragmentation.
- Mass Spectrum: Graph of ion intensity versus m/z.
- Mass-to-Charge Ratio (m/z): Ion mass divided by its charge.
- Meisenheimer Complex: Anionic intermediate in many nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions.
- Melt Transition Temperature (Tm): Temperature where a crystalline material/polymer melts.
- Mercapto Group: Older name for a –SH thiol group.
- Mercurinium Ion: Bridged mercury-containing intermediate in oxymercuration-type reactions.
- Merrifield Synthesis: Solid-phase method used to build peptides.
- Meso Compound: Has stereocenters but is achiral, usually because of internal symmetry.
- Meta: Positions 1,3 on a benzene ring.
- Meta Director: Substituent that directs new aromatic substitution mainly to the meta position.
- Methine Group: –CH– carbon attached through three bonds to other non-hydrogen atoms/groups.
- Methyl Shift: CH₃ group moves to a neighboring carbocation center during rearrangement.
- Methylene Group: –CH₂– group.
- Micelle: Aggregate where amphiphilic molecules hide hydrophobic parts from water.
- Michael Acceptor: Electron-poor conjugated alkene that accepts a nucleophile in Michael addition.
- Michael Donor: Nucleophile that attacks a Michael acceptor.
- Michael Reaction: 1,4-conjugate addition to an activated alkene.
- Migratory Aptitude: Relative tendency of a group to migrate during a rearrangement.
- Miscible: Two liquids that mix completely.
- Mixed Aldol Reaction: Aldol reaction involving two different carbonyl compounds.
- Moderate Activators: Groups that moderately increase aromatic-ring reactivity toward electrophilic substitution.
- Moderate Deactivators: Groups that moderately decrease aromatic-ring reactivity.
- Molar Absorptivity (ε): Measures how strongly a substance absorbs light at a particular wavelength.
- Molecular Dipole Moment: Overall polarity of a molecule.
- Molecular Ion: Ion corresponding approximately to the intact molecule in mass spectrometry.
- Molecular Orbital Theory: Describes electrons as occupying orbitals spread over the molecule.
- Molecular Orbitals: Orbitals belonging to the molecule rather than one individual atom.
- Monosaccharides: Single sugar units such as glucose.
- Monovalent: Having valence/charge magnitude of one.
- Multiplet: NMR signal split into several closely spaced peaks.
- Multiplicity: Pattern/number of peaks in an NMR signal.
- Mutarotation: Change in optical rotation as sugar anomers interconvert in solution.
Open a term starting with M
- λmax
- Magnetic Moment
- Malonic Ester Synthesis
- Markovnikov Addition
- Mass Spectrometer
- Mass Spectrometry
- Mass Spectrum
- Mass-to-Charge Ratio (m/z)
- Meisenheimer Complex
- Melt Transition Temperature (Tm)
- Mercapto Group
- Mercurinium Ion
- Merrifield Synthesis
- Meso Compound
- Meta
- Meta Director
- Methine Group
- Methyl Shift
- Methylene Group
- Micelle
- Michael Acceptor
- Michael Donor
- Michael Reaction
- Migratory Aptitude
- Miscible
- Mixed Aldol Reaction
- Moderate Activators
- Moderate Deactivators
- Molar Absorptivity (ε)
- Molecular Dipole Moment
- Molecular Ion
- Molecular Orbital Theory
- Molecular Orbitals
- Monosaccharides
- Monovalent
- Multiplet
- Multiplicity
- Mutarotation