PEROXYACID Meaning and
Definition
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A peroxyacid is a chemical compound that contains an acidic group derived from a carboxylic acid along with a peroxide functionality (-OOH) bonded to the same carbon atom. It is characterized by the presence of an oxygen-oxygen single bond which can be easily cleaved to produce a reactive oxygen species called the peroxyl radical. The peroxyl radical is highly reactive and serves as an oxidizing agent in many chemical reactions.
Peroxyacids have a general formula of RCOOOH, where R represents an organic substituent containing a carbon-carbon single bond. The most commonly encountered peroxyacid is peracetic acid, which is formed by the reaction between acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Other examples of peroxyacids include peroxyformic acid, peroxybenzoic acid, and peroxyacetic acid.
Peroxyacids find wide applications in various fields, including organic synthesis, industrial processes, and disinfection. They are used as powerful oxidizers in chemical reactions, often replacing more hazardous and toxic oxidizing agents. In disinfection, peroxyacids are effective in killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Furthermore, peroxyacids are involved in the synthesis of epoxides, esters, and other valuable organic compounds due to their ability to introduce oxygen into organic substrates.
Overall, peroxyacids are important chemical compounds that exhibit both acidic and oxidizing properties, making them versatile reagents in various chemical and biological processes.
Common Misspellings for PEROXYACID
- oeroxyacid
- leroxyacid
- 0eroxyacid
- pwroxyacid
- psroxyacid
- pdroxyacid
- prroxyacid
- p4roxyacid
- p3roxyacid
- peeoxyacid
- pedoxyacid
- pefoxyacid
- petoxyacid
- pe5oxyacid
- pe4oxyacid
- perixyacid
- perkxyacid
- perlxyacid
- perpxyacid
- per0xyacid
Etymology of PEROXYACID
The word "peroxyacid" is derived from two parts: "peroxy" and "acid".
The term "peroxy" comes from the Greek word "peroxus", meaning "very sharp" or "bitter". In chemical terms, "peroxy" is often used to indicate the presence of an additional oxygen atom in a compound, typically in the form of the -O-O- functional group, known as a peroxide.
The term "acid" comes from the Latin word "acidus", which means "sour". In chemistry, an acid is a substance that donates protons (H+) or accepts electron pairs during a chemical reaction.
Therefore, combining "peroxy" and "acid" gives us "peroxyacid", which denotes a class of chemical compounds that contain both the peroxide (-O-O-) and acid (-COOH) functional groups, and typically exhibit acidic properties.
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