Aprotic is a term that is commonly used in chemistry to describe a solvent or molecule that does not have any acidic hydrogen atoms. This term is often used to differentiate between solvents that can act as proton donors (protic solvents) and those that cannot. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of aprotic in more detail.
Definitions
Aprotic is an adjective that is used to describe a solvent or molecule that does not contain any acidic hydrogen atoms. This means that it cannot donate protons to other molecules. Aprotic solvents are commonly used in organic chemistry reactions because they do not interfere with the reaction mechanism.
Origin
The term aprotic comes from the Greek words “a-” meaning “not” and “protos” meaning “first” or “primary.” The term was first used in the 1950s to describe solvents that did not contain any acidic hydrogen atoms.
Meaning in different dictionaries
In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, aprotic is defined as “not capable of acting as a proton donor.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines aprotic as “not possessing an acidic hydrogen atom.”
Associations
Aprotic solvents are commonly used in organic chemistry reactions because they do not interfere with the reaction mechanism. They are also used in the production of polymers, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial chemicals.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of aprotic include non-acidic, non-protonic, and non-donating.
Antonyms
The antonyms of aprotic are protic and acidic. Protic solvents contain acidic hydrogen atoms and can act as proton donors.
The same root words
The root word of aprotic is “protos,” which means “first” or “primary.” Other words that contain this root include prototype, protoplasm, and protuberance.
Example Sentences
- The reaction proceeded smoothly in the aprotic solvent.
- The molecule was found to be aprotic, meaning it did not contain any acidic hydrogen atoms.
- Aprotic solvents are often used in the production of pharmaceuticals and other industrial chemicals.
- The use of aprotic solvents has greatly improved the efficiency of many organic chemistry reactions.