Technical Terms Glossary

Biomolecules

Biomolecules are any molecules that are produced by living organisms. They include large macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as small molecules such as primary metabolites, secondary metabolites, and natural products.

Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry is the branch of chemistry that studies the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds, which contain carbon in covalent bonding. The study of organic reactions includes the chemical synthesis of natural products, drugs, and polymers, as well as the study of individual organic molecules in the laboratory and via theoretical (in silico) study.

Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. They are the principal constituents of petroleum and natural gas. Hydrocarbons are divided into aliphatic hydrocarbons, which include alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons, which include benzene and its derivatives.

Isomers

Isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. This means they have the same number of atoms of each element, but those atoms are arranged differently in space. There are several types of isomers, including structural isomers, geometric isomers (cis-trans isomers), and enantiomers.

Cis-Trans Isomers

Cis-trans isomers, also known as geometric isomers, are a type of stereoisomerism where the relative orientation of functional groups within a molecule differs. In cis isomers, the functional groups are on the same side of a double bond or ring structure, whereas in trans isomers, they are on opposite sides.

Enantiomers

Enantiomers are a type of stereoisomer that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. This means that the molecules are identical in terms of the atoms they contain and their connectivity, but they differ in the spatial arrangement of these atoms. Enantiomers are important in the field of pharmaceuticals because the different enantiomers of a drug can have different biological activities.