Definition

A type of organic compound made up of four connected rings, which plays an important role in biological processes like carrying oxygen in blood and photosynthesis in plants.

Example

Chlorophyll is a well-known porphyrin that helps plants absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of porphyrin?

Yeah, isn’t it something related to hemoglobin?

Exactly! It plays a role in how blood carries oxygen.

That’s really interesting — I love learning about biology.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Porphyrin is derived from the Greek word "porphura" (meaning purple). The suffix "-in" is commonly used in chemistry to denote substances, particularly proteins or compounds. Thus, porphyrin refers to a purple compound, often associated with biological pigments.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for purple ('porphura') to remember that porphyrin is a compound related to purple pigments.

Visually Confused Words