adjective
aromatic
Having a molecular ring stabilized by electrons shared around it
Benzene contains an aromatic ring.
Etymology
The root names a spice or fragrant substance. Chemists first associated this class with fragrant compounds; the technical meaning now depends on molecular structure, not on whether a substance smells.
More examples
- The chemist identified an aromatic compound.
- The model illustrates the aromatic system’s shared electrons.
- The lecture distinguished aromatic and nonaromatic structures.
Forms
aromatic
Similar words
- cyclic
- Cyclic means containing a ring; aromatic describes a particular stable electron arrangement in a ring system.
- aliphatic
- Aliphatic compounds lack an aromatic ring system, although some may still contain rings.