submoleculen.
/ˈsʌbmɒlᵻkjuːl/, U.S. /ˈsəbˌmɑləˌkjul/ Chemistry.
An atom or group of atoms forming part of a molecule; an ion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > ion > [noun]
submolecule1834
thermion1909
ion1927
1834 W. Prout Chem., Meteorol. & Function Digestion i. iv. 126 Hence the self-repulsive molecules of water will consist of at least nine component sub-molecules (viz. three of oxygen and six of hydrogen).
1885 H. W. Watson & S. H. Burbury Math. Theory Electr. & Magn. I. 237 The motions of the submolecules.
1938 L. Hogben Sci. for Citizen x. 491 The ammonium radicle splits off as an electrically charged submolecule or ion.
1980 J. D. Ferry Viscoelastic Prop. Polymers (ed. 3) ix. 185 The flexible polymer molecule is thus represented as a chain of N Gaussian submolecules.
2003 S. Weinberg Discov. Subatomic Particles (rev. ed.) iii. 81 A certain fraction of the electrically neutral molecules of a liquid, such as water, are normally dissociated into positively and negatively charged submolecules, for which Faraday introduced the name ions.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1834