Glossary of Chemical Terms - M

M

macromolecule

Name given to a very large, and in most cases biologically important molecule.Molar mass certain to be in the thousands of grams, at least.

manometer

Device used for measuring small pressures.

matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space.

meniscus

Curved surface of a liquid in a container.

metabolite

A chemical product of metabolism.

metal

An element that tends to lose electrons, forming positive ions, and is a good electrical conductor.

metalloid

An element with properties intermediate between metals and non-metals.

meteorite

A mass of stone or metal that has reached the earth from outer space.

meter

Unit of length in the metric system, slightly longer than 1 yard or 36 inches.

methanogenic

"Methane (CH₄) producing"; methanogenic bacteria use hydrogen and carbon dioxide as energy sources and produce methane and water as a result.

methylated

Having a methyl group (CH₃).

micromolar

Approximately 1x10^-6 moles/liter.

microscopic

Seeing the situation at the particle level: atoms, molecules, or ions.

mitochondrion

A membrane-bound organelle that carries out oxidative phosphorylation and produces most of the ATP in eucaryotic cells.

mixture

A grouping together of two or more substances in which each retains its original properties.

molality

The molal concentration, moles of solute per kilogram of solvent, usually given the symbol m.

molarity

The number of moles of solute per liter of aqueous solution.

mole

The amount of substance that contains the same number of elementary particles as are found in exactly 12 g of carbon-12.

molecule

The smallest unit of a compound that has all the properties of the compound.

monomer

A molecule or substance which can be polymerized, usually of low molar mass.

monooxygenase

An enzyme catalyzing the incorporation of one atom from molecular oxygen into a compound and the reduction of the other atom of oxygen to water.

monosaccharide

A simple sugar most commonly having 5 or 6 carbon atoms present which cannot be hydrolyzed to simpler sugars.

Glossary created by David Shaw (Madison Area Technical College) for The Chemistry Place.

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