SINGLET DIOXYGEN Meaning and
Definition
-
Singlet dioxygen refers to a reactive form of the oxygen molecule (O2) that exists in a high-energy state where its two oxygen atoms have parallel spins. In this singlet state, both of the electrons in the molecular orbitals are spin-paired. This is in contrast to the more stable triplet state of oxygen, where the spins of the two electrons are unpaired and have anti-parallel orientation.
Singlet dioxygen is highly reactive and plays a crucial role in various chemical and biological processes. This species is involved in many oxidation reactions, such as the oxidation of organic compounds, which are important for the metabolism of living organisms. Additionally, singlet dioxygen serves as an intermediate in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are implicated in cellular damage and aging.
Due to its reactivity, singlet dioxygen has a short lifespan and rapidly undergoes reactions to return to the more stable triplet state of oxygen. One common reaction is the direct combination with another singlet oxygen molecule to form triplet oxygen. Singlet dioxygen can also react with various organic molecules, such as unsaturated fatty acids, aromatic compounds, and proteins, leading to oxidative damage.
The study of singlet dioxygen and its reactions is of great interest in various fields including biochemistry, chemistry, and environmental science. Understanding its properties and reactivity is essential for developing strategies to control and mitigate the damaging effects of singlet dioxygen in living organisms and other systems.
Common Misspellings for SINGLET DIOXYGEN
- ainglet dioxygen
- zinglet dioxygen
- xinglet dioxygen
- dinglet dioxygen
- einglet dioxygen
- winglet dioxygen
- sunglet dioxygen
- sjnglet dioxygen
- sknglet dioxygen
- songlet dioxygen
- s9nglet dioxygen
- s8nglet dioxygen
- sibglet dioxygen
- simglet dioxygen
- sijglet dioxygen
- sihglet dioxygen
- sinflet dioxygen
- sinvlet dioxygen
- sinblet dioxygen
- sinhlet dioxygen
Etymology of SINGLET DIOXYGEN
The word "singlet" in "singlet dioxygen" refers to a specific electronic state of oxygen molecules. The etymology of "singlet" comes from the Latin word "singulus", meaning "single", and it entered the English language via the French word "singlet" meaning "a type of undergarment worn by athletes". The term "singlet" was later adopted in physics and chemistry to describe a state where two electrons in an atom or molecule have opposite spins, resulting in a total spin of zero.
The word "dioxygen" comes from the Greek words "di-" meaning "two", and "oxys" meaning "sharp" or "acid". It was coined in the early 19th century to describe oxygen molecules composed of two oxygen atoms (O2).
