Chemical Structures Beginning With the Letter A

by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
Updated October 03, 2017
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Chemical Structures - A Names (Abietane to Acyclovir)

Acetone is an important molecule starting with the letter A.
Acetone is an important molecule starting with the letter A. MOLEKUUL / Getty Images

Browse a collection of chemical structures that have names beginning with the letter A. The following structures are two-dimensional, since it's easier to identify the types of atoms and bonds in this format.

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Abietane

Abietane Chemical Structure
Abietane Chemical Structure.

The molecular formula for abietane is C20H36.

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Abietic Acid

This is the chemical structure of abietic acid.
This is the chemical structure of abietic acid. Ayacop/PD

The molecular formula of abietic acid is C20H30O2.

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Acenaphthene

This is the chemical structure of acenaphthene.
This is the chemical structure of acenaphthene. Bryan Derksen/PD

The molecular formula for acenaphthene is C12H10.

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Acenaphthoquninone

This is the structure for acenaphthoquinone.
This is the structure for acenaphthoquinone. puppy8800/PD

The molecular formula for acenaphthoquinone is C12H6O2.

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Acenaphthylene

This is the chemical structure for acenaphthylene.
This is the chemical structure for acenaphthylene. Bryan Derksen/PD

The molecular formula for acenaphthylene is C12H8.

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Acepromazine

This is the chemical structure for acepromazine.
This is the chemical structure for acepromazine. David-i98/PD

The molecular formula for acepromazine is C19H22N2OS.

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Acesulfame Potassium (Acesulfame K)

This is the two-dimensional chemical structure of acesulfame potassium or acesulfame K.
This is the two-dimensional chemical structure of acesulfame potassium, which is also known as acesulfame K. Kletos, free documentation license

The molecular formula for acesulfame potassium is C4H4KNO4S.

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Acetaldehyde or Ethanal

This is the two-dimensional molecular structure of acetaldehyde or ethanal.
This is the two-dimensional molecular structure of acetaldehyde or ethanal, a flammable organic chemical compound. Acetaldehyde is also known as acetic aldehyde or ethyl aldehyde. Ben Mills

The molecular formula of acetaldehyde or ethanal is C2H4O.

Acetaldehyde is also denoted as MeCOH since the molecule is made up of a methyl group (CH3) and a formyl group (CHO).

Molecular Mass: 44.052 Daltons

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Acetamide

This is the chemical structure of acetamide.
This is the chemical structure of acetamide. Benjah-bmm27/PD

The molecular formula for acetamide is C2H5NO.

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Acetaminophen - Paracetamol

This is the chemical structure of paracetamol or acetaminophen.
This is the chemical structure of paracetamol or acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is commonly sold in the US under the brand name Tylenol. This pain reliever is derived from coal tar. Todd Helmenstine

The molecular formula for acetaminophen is C8H9NO2.

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Acetaminosalol

This is the chemical structure of acetaminosalol.
This is the chemical structure of acetaminosalol. Edgar181/PD

The molecular formula for acetaminosalol is C15H13NO4.

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Acetamiprid

This is the chemical structure of acetamiprid.
This is the chemical structure of acetamiprid. Edgar181/PD

The molecular formula for acetamiprid is C10H11ClN4.

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Acetanilide

This is the chemical structure of acetanilide.
This is the chemical structure of acetanilide. Rune.Welsh/PD

The molecular formula for acetanilide is C6H5NH(COCH3).

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Acetic Acid - Ethanoic Acid

Acetic acid is also known as ethanoic acid.
Acetic acid is also known as ethanoic acid. Cacycle, Wikipedia Commons

This is the structure of acetic acid.

Molecular Formula: C2H4O2

Molecular Mass: 60.05 Daltons

Systematic Name: Acetic acid

Other Names: Ethanoic acid, HOAc, hydroxymethyl ketone, methanecarboxylic acid

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Acetic Anhydride

This is the chemical structure of acetic anhydride.
This is the chemical structure of acetic anhydride. Todd Helmenstine

 Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, has the formula (CH₃CO)₂O. 

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Acetate Ion Chemical Structure

This is the chemical structure of the acetate anion.
This is the chemical structure of the acetate anion. Todd Helmenstine

The molecular formula for the acetate anion is C2H2O2-.

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Acetoguanamine

This is the chemical structure for acetoguanamine.
This is the chemical structure for acetoguanamine. Edgar181/PD

The molecular formula for acetoguanamine is C4H7N5.

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Acetone

This is the chemical structure of acetone.
This is the chemical structure of acetone. Todd Helmenstine

The molecular formula for acetone is CH3COCH3 or (CH3)2CO.

Other Names: propanone, β-ketopropane, and dimethyl ketone

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Acetonitrile

This is the chemical structure of acetonitrile.
This is the chemical structure of acetonitrile. Benjah-bmm27/PD

The molecular formula for acetonitrile is C2H3N.

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Acetophenone

This is the chemical structure of acetophenone.
This is the chemical structure of acetophenone. Benjah-bmm27/PD

The molecular formula for acetophenone is C8H8O.

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Acetylcholine

This is the chemical structure of acetylcholine.
This is the chemical structure of acetylcholine. Todd Helmenstine

This is the chemical structure of acetylcholine.

Molecular Formula: C7H16NO2

Molecular Mass: 146.12 Daltons

Systematic Name: 2-Acetoxy-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium

Other Names: (2-acetoxyethyl)trimethylammonium, choline acetate, ethanaminium, 2-(acetyloxy)-N,N,N-trimethyl

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Acetylene or Ethyne

Acetylene or ethyne molecule. Black spheres represent carbon and white spheres are hydrogen atoms.
Acetylene or ethyne molecule. Black spheres represent carbon and white spheres are hydrogen atoms. Science Photo Library Ltd / Getty Images

The molecular formula for acetylene is C2H2. Acetylene or ethyne is the simplest of the hydrocarbon alkynes.

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N-acetylglutamate

This is the chemical structure of N-acetylglutamate and N-Acetylglutamic acid.
This is the chemical structure of N-acetylglutamate and N-Acetylglutamic acid. Tomaxer/PD

The molecular formula for N-acetylglutamate is C7H11NO5.

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Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)

This is the chemical structure of acetylsalicylic acid.
This is the chemical structure of acetylsalicylic acid. Todd Helmenstine

This is the chemical structure of acetylsalicylic acid, or more commonly known as the active ingredient in the drug aspirin.

Molecular Formula: C9H8O4

Molecular Mass: 180.16 Daltons

Systematic Name: 2-Acetoxybenzoic acid

Other Names: 2-(Acetyloxy)benzoic acid, 2-Acetoxybenzenecarboxylic acid

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Acid Fuchsin

This is the chemical structure of acid fuchsin.
This is the chemical structure of acid fuchsin. Todd Helmenstine

The molecular formula for acid fuchsin is C20H17N3Na2O9S3.

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Aconitane Chemical Structure

This is the chemical structure of aconitane.
This is the chemical structure of aconitane. Todd Helmenstine

The molecular formula for aconitane is C18H27N.

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Acridine

This is the chemical structure of acridine.
This is the chemical structure of acridine. Todd Helmenstine

The molecular formula for acridine is C13H9N.

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Acridine Orange

This is the chemical structure of acridine orange.
This is the chemical structure of acridine orange. Klaus Hoffmeier

The molecular formula for acridine orange is C17H19N3.

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Acrolein or Propenal Molecular Structure

This is the chemical structure of acrolein, also known as propenal.
This is the chemical structure of acrolein, also known as propenal. NEUROtiker/PD

The molecular formula for acrolein or propenal is C3H4O.

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Acrylamide

This is the chemical structure of acrylamide.
This is the chemical structure of acrylamide. Benjah-bmm27

The molecular formula for acrylamide is C3H5NO.

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Acrylic Acid

This is the chemical structure of acrylic acid.
This is the chemical structure of acrylic acid. Ben Mills/PD

The molecular formula for acrylamide is C3H5NO. Acrylamide is an odorless, white, crystalline solid.

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Acrylonitrile Chemical Structure

This is the chemical structure of acrylonitrile.
This is the chemical structure of acrylonitrile. Todd Helmenstine

The molecular formula for acrylonitrile is C3H3N. Acrylonitrile is a colorless, volatile organic liquid.

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Acryloyl Chloride

This is the chemical structure of acryloyl chloride.
This is the chemical structure of acryloyl chloride. Edgar181/PD

The molecular formula for acryloyl chloride is C3H3ClO. Acryloyl chloride is a translucent, pale yellow, flammable liquid that has an acrid odor.

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Actin Protein

G-Actin with the divalent cation and ADP highlighted.
G-Actin with the divalent cation and ADP highlighted. Actin is a globular protein that is found in nearly all eukaryotic cells. It is one of the main components of the cellular cytoskeleton. Thomas Splettstoesser

Actin is one of the most abundant proteins found in eukaryotic cells.

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Acyclovir

This is the chemical structure of acyclovir.
This is the chemical structure of acyclovir. Fvasconcellos/PD

The molecular formula for acyclovir is C8H11N5O3. Acyclovir is a drug used to treat certain types of viral infections, including herpes, shingles, and chicken pox.