heteroatoms
Heteroatoms are atoms in organic compounds other than carbon and hydrogen. They include oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and the halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine), though some contexts consider other non-carbon atoms as heteroatoms. Their presence differentiates organic molecules from simple hydrocarbons by introducing polarity, reactivity, and sites for chemical bonding beyond C–C and C–H.
Common roles of heteroatoms include forming functional groups such as hydroxyl (O–H), carbonyl (C=O), amino (–NH2),
In biochemistry, heteroatoms are essential for structure and function. Oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus appear in nucleic
In materials chemistry, heteroatom doping or incorporation modifies electronic, optical, and catalytic properties of polymers, glasses,