polyatomic, a. Chem.
(pɒlɪəˈtɒmɪk)
[f. poly- + atomic. So F. polyatomique.]
Containing or consisting of many atoms of some substance; esp. having many replaceable hydrogen atoms; also = multivalent. See diatomic, triatomic, tetratomic, hexatomic. In mod. use, (composed of molecules) containing many atoms (usu., three or more). Also as n., such a molecule.
| 1857 Miller Elem. Chem. III. 431 Another class..which may be termed polybasic or polyatomic alcohols. 1866 Roscoe Elem. Chem. 242 Amongst the carbon compounds some radicals exist in which more than one combining power remains unsaturated, and which therefore act as polyatomic radicals. 1880 E. Cleminshaw Wurtz' Atom. The. 89 Other facts..introduced into science..the clearly defined notion of polyatomic compounds. 1937 L. S. Stebbing Philos. & Physicists ix. 215 Human beings are polyatomic. 1958 Oxf. Univ. Gaz. 23 Apr. 880 Vibration-rotational bands of polyatomic molecules. 1961 G. R. Choppin Exper. Nucl. Chem. iii. 37 Counting gases are usually one of the noble gases mixed with a small amount of a polyatomic gas. 1971 Nature 3 Dec. 277/1 There are chapters on diatomic radicals, linear polyatomic ones, non-linear polyatomics and a discussion of dissociation. |