Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Molecular \Mo*lec"u*lar\, a. [Cf. F. mol['e]culare. See
Molecule.] (Phys. & Chem.)
Pertaining to, connected with, produced by, or consisting of,
molecules; as, molecular forces; molecular groups of atoms,
etc.
[1913 Webster]
Molecular attraction (Phys.), attraction acting between the
molecules of bodies, and at insensible distances.
Molecular weight (Chem.), the weight of a molecule of any
gas or vapor as compared with the hydrogen atom having
weight of 1 as a standard; the sum of the atomic weights
of the constituents of a molecule; thus, the molecular
weight of water (H2O) is 18. For more precise
measurements, the weight of the carbon isotope carbon-12
is used as the standard, that isotope having the value of
12.000. In this systen, now used almost universally, the
hydrogen atom has a weight of 1.0079.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
molecular
adj 1: relating to or produced by or consisting of molecules;
"molecular structure"; "molecular oxygen"; "molecular
weight is the sum of all the atoms in a molecul"
2: relating to simple or elementary organization; "proceed by
more and more detailed analysis to the molecular facts of
perception"--G.A. Miller [syn: molecular(a)] [ant: molar(a)]
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