polyatomic

[pol-ee-uh-tom-ik]

adjective

Chemistry.

1. pertaining to a molecule containing more than two atoms.

polyatomic

/ ˌpɒlɪəˈtɒmɪk /

adjective

1. (of a molecule) containing more than two atoms

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyatomic¹

First recorded in 1855–60; poly- + atomic

Example Sentences

For example, electrons or polyatomic gases in a magnetic field do behave this way.

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In common with many other polyatomic open-chain alcohols, they generally possess a characteristic sweet, or mildly sweetish, taste.

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All such monosaccharides, being alcohol-aldehydes, can easily be reduced to the corresponding polyatomic alcohols, containing the same number of carbon atoms as the original monosaccharides, each with one OH group attached to it.

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All the other hexoses, whose structure is shown on pages 37 and 38, occur in plants only as constituents of the more complex saccharides, in glucoside-formations, or as the corresponding polyatomic alcohols.

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