1. Module 6

1.35. Module Glossary

Module 6 Glossary

Module 6—Petrochemicals

Module Glossary

 

addition reaction: a type of organic reaction involving an unsaturated hydrocarbon and a small molecule, usually hydrogen or a halogen, that increases the saturation of the hydrocarbon

 

alcohol: an organic compound containing one or more hydroxyl groups as the functional group

 

amide functional group: a group of atoms composed by connecting a carboxyl group to an amine group

 

atom economy: the percentage of material present in reactants that ends up in the desired product for a chemical process

 

carboxylic acids: a family of organic compounds characterized by the carboxyl group (-COOH)

 

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): a group of organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine

 

condensation polymerization: a reaction in which a water molecule is produced when two monomers are chemically joined

 

esterification reaction: a chemical reaction in which a carboxylic acid and an alcohol combine to produce an ester and water

 

esters: a family of organic compounds characterized by the ester functional group (-COO-)

 

functional group: a characteristic arrangement of atoms or bonds within a molecule that determines the most important chemical and physical properties of a class of compounds

 

hydrocarbon derivative: a molecular compound of carbon, at least one other element, and, usually, hydrogen

 

monomer: a small molecule that links with many other similar molecules in an addition or condensation reaction to create a polymer

 

nylon: a synthetic condensation polymer

 

organic halide: an organic compound in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by halogen atoms

 

petrochemical: a chemical made or extracted from petroleum

 

polymer: a large molecule made by linking together many smaller molecules called monomers

 

polymerization: the process of forming polymers from monomers through addition or condensation reactions

 

proteins: natural polymers of amino acids forming the basic material of living things

 

substitution reaction: a type of organic reaction involving breaking a carbon-hydrogen bond and replacing the hydrogen atom with another atom or group of atoms