aromatic
ar-uh-MAT-ik
Definition
Refers to a specific class of organic chemical compounds characterized by stable, ring-shaped structures typically containing carbon atoms.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek word 'aroma' meaning spice or fragrant, the term was originally applied to fragrant chemicals but was later redefined in chemistry to describe the specific molecular ring structures found in many hydrocarbons.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe a category of organic material found in ice grain fragments, identifying these structures as part of the diverse chemical inventory on Enceladus.
Enceladus sprays water, phosphates, molecular hydrogen and complex organics straight out of its buried ocean — and a 2025 analysis found previously unseen organic compounds in freshly ejected ice, adding still more steps to the chemical pathways that c
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com