Organic Chemistry Terms Starting with W
Definitions of 11 organic chemistry terms that start with W, such as Wavelength, Wavenumber, Waxes. Plain-language explanations linked to reactions and…
Terms starting with W
- Wavelength: Distance between repeating points of a wave, such as peak-to-peak.
- Wavenumber: Number of wave cycles per unit distance; commonly cm⁻¹ in IR spectroscopy.
- Waxes: Lipids commonly formed from long-chain fatty acids and long-chain alcohols.
- Weak Activators: Groups that slightly increase aromatic-ring reactivity.
- Weak Deactivators: Groups that slightly decrease aromatic-ring reactivity.
- Wedge: Bond pointing out of the page toward you.
- Williamson Ether Synthesis: Makes ethers by reacting an alkoxide with an alkyl electrophile, usually by SN2.
- Wittig Reaction: Converts aldehyde/ketone C=O → C=C using a phosphorus ylide.
- Wittig Reagent: Phosphorus ylide used in the Wittig reaction.
- Wohl Degradation: Shortens an aldose sugar chain by one carbon.
- Woodward–Fieser Rules: Empirical rules for estimating UV–Vis λmax of certain conjugated compounds.