Definition

A type of chemical compound that can be formed from ammonia or amines, where one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by an acyl group or a metal.

Example

Sodium amide is commonly used as a strong base in organic synthesis.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new organic chemistry project we have?

Yeah, I heard we need to research different compounds, including amide derivatives.

Right! I think I'm going to focus on acetamide for mine.

That sounds interesting! I've read that amide compounds have some unique properties.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Amide is derived from the prefix "amino-" (from the Latin "ammonium", meaning nitrogen compound) and the suffix "-ide" (used in chemistry to denote a binary compound). The term refers to a compound derived from ammonia by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms with organic groups.

Memory Tip

Think of 'amino' as relating to nitrogen compounds, and '-ide' indicating a type of compound. This helps you remember that an amide is a nitrogen-containing compound.

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