Amyl
Encyclopedia
The word or root
amyl has two meanings, in organic chemistry
and biochemistry
.
", "amylum" being another word for starch. Many terms for moderately complex biological chemicals related to starch contain "amyl", for example:
Note that in this usage, it is a part of the word, and becomes "amylo" when preceding a consonant
.
for the alkyl substituent
and radical
called pentyl
under the IUPAC nomenclature
: that is, -C5H11. This usage may derive from the presence of amyl alcohol in fusel oil, which is often fermented
from starches. In this usage, amyl (normally) remains a separate word and it does not become "amylo-" before a consonant.
Several important amyl/pentyl compounds are still widely known by their older, amyl names, including:
There are eight possible isomer
s of amyl; see under pentyl
for more information. Frequently chemicals sold commercially as amyl compounds will be a mixture of several isomers.
term for amyl nitrite
when used as a recreational drug.
"E-Amyl" is the name of the equivalent drug often sniffed by players of the game Second Life
", from α + μυλη = "not mill
", the flour not ground on grindstone
s as bread flour, but dried milk slurry strained from a pulp of softened grain (wheat) with water.
Root (linguistics)
The root word is the primary lexical unit of a word, and of a word family , which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents....
amyl has two meanings, in organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
and biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
.
Biochemistry
In biochemistry, "amyl" means "pertaining to starchStarch
Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store...
", "amylum" being another word for starch. Many terms for moderately complex biological chemicals related to starch contain "amyl", for example:
- AmylaseAmylaseAmylase is an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of starch into sugars. Amylase is present in human saliva, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. Food that contains much starch but little sugar, such as rice and potato, taste slightly sweet as they are chewed because amylase turns...
- AmylopectinAmylopectinAmylopectin is a soluble polysaccharide and highly branched polymer of glucose found in plants. It is one of the two components of starch, the other being amylose.Glucose units are linked in a linear way with α glycosidic bonds...
- AmyloseAmyloseAmylose is a linear polymer made up of D-glucose units.This polysaccharide is one of the two components of starch, making up approximately 2-30% of the structure...
- AmyloplastAmyloplastAmyloplasts are non-pigmented organelles found in some plant cells. They are responsible for the synthesis and storage of starch granules, through the polymerization of glucose. Amyloplasts also convert this starch back into sugar when the plant needs energy...
- AmyloidAmyloidAmyloids are insoluble fibrous protein aggregates sharing specific structural traits. Abnormal accumulation of amyloid in organs may lead to amyloidosis, and may play a role in various neurodegenerative diseases.-Definition:...
(based on an early mistaken opinion that these structures contained starch)
Note that in this usage, it is a part of the word, and becomes "amylo" when preceding a consonant
Consonant
In articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract. Examples are , pronounced with the lips; , pronounced with the front of the tongue; , pronounced with the back of the tongue; , pronounced in the throat; and ,...
.
Organic Chemistry
In organic chemistry, amyl is the old trivial nameTrivial name
In chemistry, a trivial name is a common name or vernacular name; it is a non-systematic name or non-scientific name. That is, the name is not recognised according to the rules of any formal system of nomenclature...
for the alkyl substituent
Substituent
In organic chemistry and biochemistry, a substituent is an atom or group of atoms substituted in place of a hydrogen atom on the parent chain of a hydrocarbon...
and radical
Radical (chemistry)
Radicals are atoms, molecules, or ions with unpaired electrons on an open shell configuration. Free radicals may have positive, negative, or zero charge...
called pentyl
Pentyl
In organic chemistry, pentyl is a five-carbon alkyl substituent with chemical formula -C5H11. It is the substituent form of the alkane pentane. In older literature, the common non-systematic name "amyl" was often used for the pentyl group....
under the IUPAC nomenclature
IUPAC nomenclature
A chemical nomenclature is a set of rules to generate systematic names for chemical compounds. The nomenclature used most frequently worldwide is the one created and developed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ....
: that is, -C5H11. This usage may derive from the presence of amyl alcohol in fusel oil, which is often fermented
Fermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
from starches. In this usage, amyl (normally) remains a separate word and it does not become "amylo-" before a consonant.
Several important amyl/pentyl compounds are still widely known by their older, amyl names, including:
- Amylamine
- Amyl acetateAmyl acetateAmyl acetate is an organic compound and an ester with the chemical formula CH3COO[CH2]4CH3 and the molecular weight 130.19 g/mol. It has a scent similar to bananas and apples which is not detectable by all people. The compound is the condensation product of acetic acid and 1-pentanol...
- Amyl alcoholAmyl alcoholAn amyl alcohol is any of 8 alcohols with the formula C5H11OH. A mixture of amyl alcohols can be obtained from fusel alcohol. Amyl alcohol is used as a solvent and in esterfication for example in the production of amyl acetate...
- Amyl nitrateAmyl nitrateAmyl nitrate is the chemical compound with the formula CH34ONO2. This molecule consists of the 5-carbon amyl group attached to a nitrate functional group. It is the ester of amyl alcohol and nitric acid.-Applications:...
- Amyl nitriteAmyl nitriteAmyl nitrite is the chemical compound with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrito functional group. The alkyl group is unreactive and the chemical and biological properties are mainly due to the nitrite group...
There are eight possible isomer
Isomer
In chemistry, isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. Isomers do not necessarily share similar properties, unless they also have the same functional groups. There are many different classes of isomers, like stereoisomers, enantiomers, geometrical...
s of amyl; see under pentyl
Pentyl
In organic chemistry, pentyl is a five-carbon alkyl substituent with chemical formula -C5H11. It is the substituent form of the alkane pentane. In older literature, the common non-systematic name "amyl" was often used for the pentyl group....
for more information. Frequently chemicals sold commercially as amyl compounds will be a mixture of several isomers.
Slang
"Amyl" is also a slangSlang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term for amyl nitrite
Amyl nitrite
Amyl nitrite is the chemical compound with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrito functional group. The alkyl group is unreactive and the chemical and biological properties are mainly due to the nitrite group...
when used as a recreational drug.
"E-Amyl" is the name of the equivalent drug often sniffed by players of the game Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
Etymology
"Amyl", used to mean "starch", in Latin Amylum, was taken from Greek αμυλος = "cake made from fine flourFlour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
", from α + μυλη = "not mill
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
", the flour not ground on grindstone
Grindstone
Grindstone may refer to:*Grindstone , a tool used for sharpening*Grindstone, a type of millstone used to grind grains such as wheat*Grindstone , 1996 Kentucky Derby winner and sire of the racehorse Birdstone...
s as bread flour, but dried milk slurry strained from a pulp of softened grain (wheat) with water.