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Glite Dictionary
⚗️ A replacing atom 🔄 A replacement
substituent

substituent

1 8.9
An atom or small group of atoms that replaces another atom in a molecule
  • noun
  • /səbˈstɪtʃuənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sustituyente
  • In organic chemistry, a substituent can significantly alter the reactivity of a molecule.

Examples

  • Most of the transition-metal catalysts used in homogeneous catalysis have large, often bulky substituents on the ligands.

    Academic text (2001)

  • You can add substituent atoms and tune the electronic properties that way.

  • What's the highest priority for a substituent on the central carbon?

  • Also, any substituent groups that might be released due to transformation need to be tested for in the air, soil water, and soil solids.

    Academic text (1995)

  • This compound contains a hydrophobic fluorobenzyl substituent flexibly linked to a chelatable quinolone region.

    Blog text (19)

  • Further structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on the amide moiety of 1 led to the identification of a superior para-fluorobenzyl substituent (compound 2).

    Blog text (19)

  • The scientist explained how a substituent affects the overall stability of the compound.

  • When analyzing the molecule, we identified the substituent responsible for its color change.

Surface Forms

substituent singular
substituents plural

Morphology

substituent = substitute (semi-transparent) = substitute + ent

Derivationally clear as 'something that substitutes', but the meaning is specialized to chemistry (an atom/group replacing another in a molecule).

Etymology

Substituent uses the parts sub- 'in place of' and stitute 'to put', the same idea behind substitute. In chemistry this gives a clear picture: a substituent is an atom or group 'put in the place of' another, so it means the part that replaces another in a molecule.