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hydroxyl group

(Encyclopedia)hydroxyl group hīdrŏkˈsĭl [key], in chemistry, functional group that consists of an oxygen atom joined by a single bond to a hydrogen atom. An alcohol is formed when a hydroxyl group is joined by ...

Harvard College Observatory

(Encyclopedia)Harvard College Observatory, astronomical observatory located in Cambridge, Mass., operated by Harvard (Harvard College at the time of the observatory's founding in 1839). Its equipment includes a 61-...

formyl group

(Encyclopedia)formyl group fôrˈmĭl [key], in chemistry, functional group that consists of a carbonyl group joined by a single bond to a hydrogen atom. Aldehydes are compounds that contain a formyl group joined b...

resonance, in chemistry

(Encyclopedia)resonance, in chemistry: see chemical bond. ...

Sauvage, Jean-Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Sauvage, Jean-Pierre, 1944–, French chemist, Ph.D. Univ. of Strasbourg, 1971. He has spent his entire career as a researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research and a professor at the Uni...

fatty acid

(Encyclopedia)fatty acid, any of the organic carboxylic acids present in fats and oils as esters of glycerol. Molecular weights of fatty acids vary over a wide range. The carbon skeleton of any fatty acid is unbran...

bail

(Encyclopedia)bail, in law, procurement of release from prison of a person awaiting trial or an appeal, by the deposit of security to insure his submission at the required time to legal authority. The monetary valu...

Dodd, William

(Encyclopedia)Dodd, William, 1729–77, English author. At one time king's chaplain, he ran heavily into debt, forged a bond, and was sentenced to death. Dr. Johnson led a movement to obtain clemency, but Dodd was ...

molecular orbital theory

(Encyclopedia)molecular orbital theory, detailed explanation of how electrons are distributed in stable molecules. In the simpler valence theory of the chemical bond, each atom in a molecule is assumed to retain it...

cyano group

(Encyclopedia)cyano group sīˈənō, sī-ănˈō [key], in chemistry, functional group that consists of a carbon atom joined to a nitrogen atom by a triple bond; it can be joined to an atom or another group by a s...