AMINE Meaning and
Definition
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An amine is a chemical compound classified as an organic compound that belongs to a class of nitrogen-containing compounds. It is derived from ammonia by replacing one or more of the hydrogen atoms with alkyl or aryl groups. Amines are widely found in nature and are important molecules in biological systems.
Amines are categorized based on the number of alkyl or aryl groups attached to the nitrogen atom. If only one alkyl or aryl group is attached, they are known as primary amines. With two alkyl or aryl groups, they are referred to as secondary amines, and if three alkyl or aryl groups are attached, they are called tertiary amines. Amines are predominantly colorless and possess a distinctive fish-like odor.
Amines are crucial building blocks in the production of various organic compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, dyes, rubber, pesticides, and plastics. They also play a vital role in biological processes, acting as neurotransmitters, hormones, and vitamins. Amines can participate in reactions such as nucleophilic substitution, condensation, and oxidation. They can act as bases, forming salts with acids, and they are weakly basic due to the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom.
Overall, amines are versatile compounds with diverse applications in numerous industries and biological systems.
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A substance which may be derived from ammonia by the replacement of one or more of the hydrogen atoms by hydrocarbon radicals; the substitution of one hydrogen atom constitutes a primary, that of two atoms a secondary, and that of three a tertiary amine.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AMINE
Etymology of AMINE
The word "amine" was derived from the combination of two sources: "ammonia" and the suffix "-ine".
The term "ammonia" traces back to the Latin word "ammoniacum", which referred to a type of gum resin extracted from the Egyptian shrub Ammoniacus gummi. This resin was known to ancient Greeks and Romans and was used in medicine. Later, during the 18th century, "ammonia" specifically came to be associated with a pungent gas with a similar smell to the gum resin.
The suffix "-ine", on the other hand, comes from various sources. In this context, it relates to the naming of organic compounds. The suffix "-ine" originated from the French word "-ine" or "-in", meaning "of or pertaining to" or "derived from". This suffix has been used to name various organic compounds, including amines.
Similar spelling words for AMINE
- amino,
- amann,
- ammino,
- Ammon,
- Aman,
- amon,
- ammann,
- amnion,
- amano,
- amini,
- ammine,
- Amina,
- amenia,
- amman,
- Amin,
- amen,
- amain.
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