🔧 Two uses 🧪 Two chemical groups

bifunctional

7.5

A molecule that has two reactive parts in chemistry

adjective
/ˌbaɪˈfʌŋkʃənl/

Specialized

: bifuncional

This bifunctional drug is designed to treat both inflammation and pain simultaneously in patients.
bifunctional catalyst

So Alex has used a HOMO bifunctional cross linker.

Examples

Scientists discovered a bifunctional molecule that can effectively target cancer cells while also delivering therapeutic agents.
So Alex has used a HOMO bifunctional cross linker.

MIT OpenCourseWare
The new synthetic polymer developed in the lab is considered bifunctional because it can repel water and resist oil.

Synonyms

multifunctional

vsbifunctional

2 3.9

Able to do several different jobs

has exactly two reactive sites rather than many

Surface Forms

bifunctional positive

Morphology

bifunctional = functional (semi-transparent) = bi + function + al

Formally 'bi-' + 'functional' is clear, but the chemistry-specific meaning 'having two functional groups or reactive sites' requires domain knowledge and may not be deducible by general learners.

Etymology

Bifunctional comes from bi- 'two' and function 'a job' or 'use', and you can remember bi- from bicycle. In chemistry the word means a molecule or enzyme has 'two reactive parts' that can do two different chemical jobs.