Organic Chemistry Terms Starting with T
Definitions of 31 organic chemistry terms that start with T, such as Tautomers, Terminal Alkyne, Termination. Plain-language explanations linked to…
Terms starting with T
- Tautomers: Constitutional isomers that rapidly interconvert, usually by proton movement and π-bond rearrangement.
- Terminal Alkyne: Alkyne with H attached directly to a triple-bond carbon.
- Termination: Radical-chain step where radicals combine/disappear and the chain stops.
- Termolecular: Elementary step involving three reacting particles at once; uncommon.
- Terpenes: Large family of natural compounds built conceptually from isoprene units.
- Tertiary (3°): Carbon/group connected to three carbon groups, depending on context.
- Tertiary Alkyl Halide: Halogen-bearing carbon attached to three other carbons.
- Tertiary Structure: Overall 3D folding of one protein chain.
- Tetrahedral: Geometry with four groups around a center at about 109.5°.
- Tetrahedral Intermediate: Intermediate formed when a nucleophile attacks a carbonyl and the carbon becomes tetrahedral.
- Tetravalent: Able to form four bonds/possessing valence four; carbon is commonly tetravalent.
- Thermodynamic Control: Conditions favor the most stable product, rather than necessarily the fastest-formed one.
- Thermodynamics: Study of energy, equilibrium, and whether processes are thermodynamically favorable.
- Thermoplastics: Polymers that soften when heated and can usually be reshaped.
- Thermosetting Resins: Polymers that form permanent cross-linked networks and do not simply remelt.
- Thioacetal: Acetal-like functional group where sulfur replaces oxygen.
- Thiolate: RS⁻, deprotonated form of a thiol. Strong nucleophile.
- Thiols: Sulfur analogues of alcohols containing –SH.
- Third Order: Overall rate-law exponents add to three.
- Three-Center, Two-Electron Bond: Two electrons shared across three atoms instead of two.
- Torsional Angle: Angle describing rotation around a bond; closely related to dihedral angle.
- Torsional Strain: Increased energy from unfavorable eclipsing interactions.
- Tosylate: OTs group; commonly an excellent leaving group made from an alcohol.
- Transition State: Highest-energy arrangement along a reaction step; exists only extremely briefly.
- Transport Protein: Protein that carries molecules or ions.
- Triglyceride: Glycerol connected to three fatty acids through ester bonds.
- Trigonal Planar: Three groups around a center, roughly 120°, in one plane.
- Trigonal Pyramidal: Three bonded groups plus a lone pair, giving a pyramid-like shape.
- Triplet: NMR signal split into three peaks.
- Trivalent: Having valence/charge magnitude of three.
- Twist Boat: Cyclohexane conformation more stable than the boat but less stable than the chair.
Open a term starting with T
- Tautomers
- Terminal Alkyne
- Termination
- Termolecular
- Terpenes
- Tertiary (3°)
- Tertiary Alkyl Halide
- Tertiary Structure
- Tetrahedral
- Tetrahedral Intermediate
- Tetravalent
- Thermodynamic Control
- Thermodynamics
- Thermoplastics
- Thermosetting Resins
- Thioacetal
- Thiolate
- Thiols
- Third Order
- Three-Center, Two-Electron Bond
- Torsional Angle
- Torsional Strain
- Tosylate
- Transition State
- Transport Protein
- Triglyceride
- Trigonal Planar
- Trigonal Pyramidal
- Triplet
- Trivalent
- Twist Boat