Benzoquinone

/ˌbɛnzoʊˈkwɪnoʊn/ noun

Definition

An oxidized aromatic compound formed by fusing benzene with a quinone (a diene with two ketone groups), used in electron transfer chemistry and dye synthesis.

Etymology

From benzo- (benzene) + quinone (from quina- cinchona + -one ketone, a fully oxidized benzene). Named in 19th-century organic chemistry.

Kelly Says

Benzoquinone is nature's electron shuttle—ubiquinone (vitamin Q) is a benzoquinone derivative that ferries electrons in mitochondria to power your cells, and without this molecule working properly, you'd have no energy to move or think.

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