diatomic

American

[dahy-uh-tom-ik] / ˌdaɪ əˈtɒm ɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

having two atoms in the molecule.
containing two replaceable atoms or groups; binary.

diatomic British

/ ˌdaɪætəˈmɪsɪtɪ, ˌdaɪəˈtɒmɪk /

adjective

1. containing two atoms
2. containing two characteristic groups or atoms
  
  ethylene glycol is a diatomic alcohol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

diatomicity

noun

Etymology

Origin of diatomic

First recorded in 1865–70; di- ¹ + atomic

Vocabulary lists containing diatomic

Chemistry - High School

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Chemistry - Middle School

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Chemical Reactions - Middle School

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023