from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Methyl \Meth"yl\, n. [See {Methylene}.] (Chem.)
A univalent hydrocarbon radical, {CH3-}, not existing alone
but regarded as an essential residue of methane, and
appearing as a component part of many derivatives; as, methyl
alcohol, methyl ether, methyl amine, etc. [Formerly written
also {methule}, {methyle}, etc.]
[1913 Webster]
{Methyl alcohol} (Chem.), a light, volatile, inflammable
liquid, {CH3.OH}, obtained by the distillation of wood,
and hence called {wood alcohol} or {wood spirit};
tecnically referred to as {methanol}; -- called also
{methol}, {carbinol}, etc.
{Methyl amine} (Chem.), a colorless, inflammable, alkaline
gas, {CH3.NH2}, having an ammoniacal, fishy odor. It is
produced artificially, and also occurs naturally in
herring brine and other fishy products. It is regarded as
ammonia in which a third of its hydrogen is replaced by
methyl, and is a type of the class of substituted
ammonias.
{Methyl ether} (Chem.), a light, volatile ether {CH3.O.CH3},
obtained by the etherification of methyl alcohol; --
called also {methyl oxide} or {dimethyl ether}.
{Methyl green}. (Chem.) See under {Green}, n.
{Methyl orange}. (Chem.) See {Helianthin}.
{Methyl violet} (Chem.), an artificial dye, consisting of
certain methyl halogen derivatives of rosaniline.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
molecular formula \mo*lec"u*lar form"u*la\, n. (Chem.)
An expression representing the composition of elements in a
chemical substance, commonly consisting of a series of
letters and numbers comprising the atomic symbols of each
element present in a compound followed by the number of atoms
of that element present in one molecule of the substance.
Thus the molecular formula for common alcohol (ethyl alcohol)
is {C2H6O}, meaning that each molecule contains two carbon
atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. The molecular
formula may be written to provide some indication of the
actual structure of the molecule, in which case structural
units may be written separately. Thus, ethyl alcohol can also
be written as {CH3.CH2.OH} or {CH3-CH2-OH}, in which the
period or dash between functional groups indicates a single
bond between the principle atoms of each group. This formula
shows that in ethyl alcohol, the carbon of a methyl group
({CH3-}) is attached to the carbon of a methylene group
({-CH2-}), which is attached to the oxygen of a hydroxyl
group ({-OH}). A {structural formula} is a graphical
depiction of the relative positions of atoms in a molecule,
and may be very complicated.
[PJC]