Definition of amide in English:

noun

• 1An organic compound containing the group —C(O)NH2, derived from ammonia by replacement of a hydrogen atom by an acyl group.

  Example sentences

  • ‘The ester functional group can also be split by ammonia to give amides and alcohols.’
  • ‘The resulting ester was saponified under basic conditions to the free acid, converted to the acyl chloride with thionyl chloride, and then to the amide with anhydrous ammonia gas.’
  • ‘Secondary and tertiary amides are prepared by reacting primary amides or nitriles with organic acids.’

  1. 1.1A compound derived from ammonia by replacement of a hydrogen atom by a metal, containing the anion NH2−
     [with modifier] ‘sodium amide’

     More example sentences

     • ‘On the other hand, the permeability of the membrane for small uncharged solutes such as low molecular weight alcohols, amides, ketones etc., did not change.’
     • ‘A second component of these molecules was identified as an amide or an amino acid.’
     • ‘Primary amides are weakly basic and can form compounds with metals such as sodium, potassium, mercury, and cadmium, although heavy metal amides can be explosive.’
     • ‘They are intermediates in such reactions as the change of a carboxylic acid to its next highest homologue or to a derivative of a homologous acid such as an ester or an amide.’
     • ‘Nitriles are formed by heating amides with phosphorous pentoxide or by treating organic halogen compounds with sodium cyanide.’