Organic Chemistry Terms Starting with P
Definitions of 51 organic chemistry terms that start with P, such as α-Position, β-Pleated Sheet, β-Position. Plain-language explanations linked to…
Terms starting with P
- α-Position: The carbon directly next to a functional group, often a carbonyl.
- β-Pleated Sheet: A protein secondary structure made from hydrogen-bonded peptide strands.
- β-Position: The carbon two positions away from a reference functional group.
- Para: Positions 1,4 on a benzene ring.
- Parent Ion: Ion related to the original molecule in mass spectrometry.
- Partially Condensed Structure: Structural formula that shows some bonds/groups explicitly while abbreviating others.
- Pauli Exclusion Principle: No two electrons in an atom can have the same complete set of four quantum numbers.
- Peptidases: Enzymes that break peptide bonds.
- Peptide: Chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
- Peptide Bond: Amide bond connecting amino acids.
- Pericyclic Reactions: Concerted reactions involving cyclic movement of electrons.
- Periplanar: Bonds/groups arranged approximately in the same plane.
- Peroxides: Compounds containing an O–O bond.
- Phenolate: Conjugate base of phenol.
- Phenoxide: Another common name for the phenolate ion, PhO⁻.
- Phenyl Group: Benzene minus one H: C₆H₅– / Ph–.
- Phosphatidic Acid: Basic glycerophospholipid containing glycerol, fatty acids, and phosphate.
- Phosphoglycerides: Glycerol-based phospholipids.
- Phospholipids: Lipids containing phosphate; major components of membranes.
- Photochemical Reaction: Reaction initiated or changed by absorption of light.
- Photon: Packet of electromagnetic energy.
- Physiological pH: pH typical of biological conditions; blood is around 7.4, though physiological pH depends on location.
- Plane of Symmetry: Imaginary plane dividing a molecule into mirror-image halves.
- Plane-Polarized Light: Light whose electric field oscillates in one plane.
- Plasticizers: Additives that make polymers softer and more flexible.
- Polar Aprotic Solvent: Polar solvent without an O–H/N–H proton; often favors strong nucleophilicity of anions and SN2 chemistry.
- Polar Covalent Bond: Covalent bond with unequal electron sharing.
- Polar Reaction: Reaction driven by interactions between electron-rich and electron-poor sites.
- Polarimeter: Instrument measuring optical rotation.
- Polarizability: How easily an electron cloud can be distorted.
- Polarization: Uneven redistribution of electron density.
- Polycarbonates: Polymers containing carbonate linkages.
- PAHs: Molecules containing multiple fused aromatic rings.
- Polyether: Polymer containing many ether linkages.
- Polynucleotide: Long chain of nucleotides, such as DNA or RNA.
- Polysaccharides: Long chains of sugar units.
- Polyurethanes: Polymers containing urethane/carbamate linkages.
- PVC: Polyvinyl chloride, polymer made from vinyl chloride.
- Primary (1°): Carbon/group connected to one other carbon, depending on context.
- Primary Alkyl Halide: Halogen-bearing carbon attached to only one other carbon.
- Primary Structure: Amino-acid sequence of a protein.
- Progestins: Natural or synthetic compounds with progesterone-like activity.
- Propagation: Radical-chain steps that consume one radical and generate another.
- Prostaglandins: Biologically active lipid signaling molecules.
- Prosthetic Group: Tightly bound non-protein component needed by some proteins.
- Protecting Group: Temporary chemical “shield” placed on a functional group so it doesn't react.
- Proteins: Biological polymers made from amino acids.
- Protic Solvent: Solvent able to donate H-bonds, usually containing O–H or N–H.
- Proton Transfer: H⁺ moves from one species to another.
- Pyranose Ring: Six-membered cyclic sugar form.
- Pyrimidine: Six-membered aromatic nitrogen heterocycle found in bases such as cytosine, thymine, and uracil.
Open a term starting with P
- α-Position
- β-Pleated Sheet
- β-Position
- Para
- Parent Ion
- Partially Condensed Structure
- Pauli Exclusion Principle
- Peptidases
- Peptide
- Peptide Bond
- Pericyclic Reactions
- Periplanar
- Peroxides
- Phenolate
- Phenoxide
- Phenyl Group
- Phosphatidic Acid
- Phosphoglycerides
- Phospholipids
- Photochemical Reaction
- Photon
- Physiological pH
- Plane of Symmetry
- Plane-Polarized Light
- Plasticizers
- Polar Aprotic Solvent
- Polar Covalent Bond
- Polar Reaction
- Polarimeter
- Polarizability
- Polarization
- Polycarbonates
- PAHs
- Polyether
- Polynucleotide
- Polysaccharides
- Polyurethanes
- PVC
- Primary (1°)
- Primary Alkyl Halide
- Primary Structure
- Progestins
- Propagation
- Prostaglandins
- Prosthetic Group
- Protecting Group
- Proteins
- Protic Solvent
- Proton Transfer
- Pyranose Ring
- Pyrimidine