noun
- An atom other than carbon or hydrogen in an organic molecule, such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus.
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- Nitrogen is a common heteroatom found in amino acids and proteins.
- The heteroatom in this compound affects its chemical reactivity.
- Oxygen serves as a heteroatom in many organic molecules.
- Sulfur-containing heteroatoms are important in pharmaceutical compounds.
- The presence of heteroatoms can change the polarity of a molecule.