Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

acid anhydride

(Encyclopedia)acid anhydride ănhīˈdrīd, –drəd [key], chemical compound that reacts with water to form an acid (see acids and bases). Anhydrides of inorganic acids are usually oxides of nonmetallic elements. ...

pantothenic acid

(Encyclopedia)pantothenic acid pănˈtəthĕnˈĭk [key]: see coenzyme; vitamin. ...

nucleic acid

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Replication of strands of DNA CE5 nucleic acid, any of a group of organic substances found in the chromosomes of living cells and viruses that play a central role in the storage and replica...

oxalic acid

(Encyclopedia)oxalic acid ĕthˌāndīōĭk [key], HO2CCO2H, a colorless, crystalline organic carboxylic acid that melts at 189℃ with sublimation. Oxalic acid and oxalate salts are poisonous. Oxalic acid is found...

acid rain

(Encyclopedia)acid rain or acid deposition, form of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, or hail) containing high levels of sulfuric or nitric acids (pH below 5.5–5.6). Produced when sulfur dioxide and various nitro...

maleic acid

(Encyclopedia)maleic acid məlēˈĭk [key]: see fumaric acid. ...

malic acid

(Encyclopedia)malic acid: see Krebs cycle.

aspartic acid

(Encyclopedia)CE5 aspartic acid əspärˈtĭk [key], organic compound, one of the 20 amino acids commonly found in animal proteins. Only the l-stereoisomer participates in the biosynthesis of proteins. Its acidi...

Browse by Subject