Addycja

Addycja is a term used in Polish chemistry to denote an addition reaction, a type of chemical reaction in which two substances combine to form a single product with no atoms lost. In organic chemistry, additions typically occur across unsaturated bonds, such as carbon–carbon double bonds, converting them into single bonds and increasing saturation.

The concept is used to describe several common processes in synthesis. Examples include hydrogenation (addition of H2 to alkenes to form alkanes), hydrohalogenation (addition of HX across a double bond), halogenation (addition of X2), and hydration (addition of water across a double bond). More generally, addycja encompasses reactions where substituents are added to multiple bonds or where small molecules add across unsaturated substrates.

Mechanistically, addycje are often categorized as electrophilic additions, where an electrophile adds to an unsaturated bond, or as nucleophilic or radical additions, depending on the reacting species and conditions. In Polish chemical literature, addycja is used as an umbrella term for these processes, reflecting the broad idea of addition across a multiple bond rather than a single, specific mechanism.

Etymology and usage notes: addycja is derived from Latin additio and is used primarily in Polish-language chemistry texts and education to describe addition reactions. While the core idea is consistent with the English term “addition,” Polish terminology may specify reaction type by context (for example, hydrogenation or hydration) in addition to referring to addycja in a general sense.