The 100 Most Important Chemical Compounds. A Reference Guide

Richard L. Myers9780313337581, 0313337586

What is a chemical compound? Compounds are substances that are two or more elements combined together chemically in a standard proportion by weight. Compounds are all around us – they include familiar things, such as water, and more esoteric substances, such as triuranium octaoxide, the most commonly occurring natural source for uranium. This reference guide gives us a tour of 100 of the most important, common, unusual, and intriguing compounds known to science. Each entry gives an extensive explanation of the composition, molecular formula, and chemical properties of the compound. In addition, each entry reviews the relevant chemistry, history, and uses of the compound, with discussions of the origin of the compound’s name, the discovery or first synthesis of the compound, production statistics, and uses of the compound.

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Table of contents :
Cover Page……Page 1
Title Page……Page 4
ISBN 0313337586……Page 5
Contents……Page 8
Preface……Page 12
Acknowledgments……Page 16
What Is a Chemical Compound?……Page 18
Organic and Inorganic Compounds……Page 20
Naming Compounds……Page 22
Molecular and Structural Formulas……Page 25
Entry Format……Page 26
1. Acetic Acid……Page 28
2. Acetone……Page 31
3. Acetylene……Page 34
4. Acetylsalicylic Acid……Page 37
5. Adenine……Page 40
6. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)……Page 45
7. Adipic Acid……Page 47
8. Aluminum(III) Oxide Al2O3……Page 51
9. Ammonia……Page 54
10. Ascorbic Acid……Page 57
11. Aspartame……Page 60
12. Benzene……Page 63
13. Benzoic Acid……Page 67
14. Biphenyl and PCBs……Page 70
15. Butane……Page 73
16. Butene……Page 76
17. Butyric and Fatty Acids……Page 79
18. Caffeine……Page 82
19. Calcium Carbonate……Page 86
20. Calcium Oxide (Lime)……Page 89
21. Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum)……Page 92
22. Carbon Dioxide……Page 95
23. Carbon Monoxide……Page 99
24. Chloroform……Page 102
25. Chlorophyll……Page 105
26. Cholesterol……Page 108
27. Citric Acid……Page 112
28. Cocaine……Page 115
29. Cytosine, Thymine, and Uracil……Page 119
30. DDT……Page 122
31. DEET……Page 125
32. Dichlorodifluoromethane, CFC-12……Page 128
33. Dopamine, L-Dopa……Page 132
34. Epinephrine (Adrenaline)……Page 135
35. Ethane……Page 138
36. Ethene (Ethylene)……Page 140
37. Ether……Page 144
38. Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol)……Page 147
39. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA)……Page 151
40. Fluoxetine (Prozac)……Page 154
41. Formaldehyde……Page 157
42. Formic Acid……Page 159
43. Glucose……Page 161
44. Glycerol (Glycerin)……Page 165
45. Guanine……Page 167
46. Hydrochloric Acid……Page 168
47. Hydrogen Peroxide……Page 171
48. Hydrogen Sulfide……Page 174
49. Ibuprofen……Page 177
50. Indigo……Page 179
51. Insulin……Page 183
52. Iron(III) Oxide……Page 187
53. Isooctane……Page 191
54. Isoprene……Page 194
56. Methane……Page 198
57. Methyl Alcohol (Methanol)……Page 201
58. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)……Page 205
59. Monosodium Glutamate……Page 208
60. Morphine……Page 211
61. Naphthalene……Page 215
62. Nicotine……Page 218
63. Nitric Acid……Page 221
66. Nitrous Oxide……Page 224
67. Nitroglycerin……Page 229
68. Norethindrone……Page 232
69. Penicillin……Page 236
70. Phenol……Page 241
71. Phosphoric Acid……Page 245
72. Piperine……Page 248
73. Potassium Carbonate……Page 251
74. Potassium Nitrate……Page 254
75. Propane……Page 258
76. Propylene……Page 261
77. Quinine……Page 265
78. Saccharin……Page 268
79. Silicon Dioxide (Silica)……Page 271
80. Sodium Bicarbonate……Page 274
81. Sodium Carbonate……Page 276
82. Sodium Chloride……Page 279
83. Sodium Hydroxide……Page 284
84. Sodium Hypochlorite……Page 287
85. Strychnine……Page 290
86. Styrene……Page 293
87. Sucrose……Page 295
88. Sulfuric Acid……Page 298
89. Tetrafluoroethylene……Page 302
90. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)……Page 305
92. Trinitrotoluene (TNT)……Page 308
93. Toluene……Page 310
94. Triuranium Octaoxide……Page 312
96. Urea……Page 315
97. Vanillin……Page 318
98. Vinyl Chloride……Page 322
99. Water……Page 325
100. Xylene……Page 330
Common and Ancient Names of Substances……Page 334
Glossary……Page 336
Selected Bibliography……Page 342
Index……Page 346