Organometallic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A class of chemical compounds that involves the bonding of metal atoms to carbon within organic structures
2. This refers to chemical entities where metals are linked to organic carbon frameworks, influencing their reactivity
3. Relating to chemical compounds that feature a bond between a metal atom and a carbon atom of an organic group

Etymology: "Organometallic" is a plain compound of two existing elements, "organo-" and "metallic," and the combination describes exactly what the compounds are. "Organo-" comes from "organic," meaning carbon-based chemistry, while "metallic" describes the metal component, so the word names a compound containing a bond between a metal atom and a carbon atom of an organic group. The first half, "organo-," is a combining form drawn from "organic," which in chemistry has long meant compounds built around carbon. The second half, "metallic," is the familiar adjective for anything containing or resembling metal. Joined together, the pieces read almost like a definition: a metal bonded to an organic fragment.