amide

amide (ăm'īd) [key], organic compound formed by reaction of an acid chloride, acid anhydride, or ester with an amine. Under strong acidic conditions an amide can be hydrolyzed to yield an amine and a carboxylic acid. The reverse of this process results in the loss of water and is used in nature to link amino acids to form proteins. See amino group; carboxyl group.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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