LACTONE

Noun

lactone (plural lactones)

(organic chemistry) A cyclic intramolecular ester derived from a hydroxy acid.

Usage notes

• Greek prefixes indicate the ring size e.g. α- 3-membered, β- 4-membered

Anagrams

• octenal

Source: Wiktionary


Lac"tone, n. (Chem.)

Definition: One of a series of organic compounds, regarded as anhydrides of certain hydroxy acids. In general, they are colorless liquids, having a weak aromatic odor. They are so called because the typical lactone is derived from lactic acid.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

29 May 2025

CRITICAL

(adjective) characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; ā€œa critical readingā€; ā€œa critical dissertationā€; ā€œa critical analysis of Melville’s writingsā€


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The New York Stock Exchange started out as a coffee house.

coffee icon