Derivative (chemistry)

125px 125px 125px Chloromethane (middle) and methanol (right) are both derivatives of methane (left).

In chemistry, a derivative is a chemical compound related to a different, usually simpler, compound called its parent compound. The term has different meanings in specific contexts, but normally refers to a chemical that is made by replacing a small part of the parent without making big changes to its shape or structure.

Category:Chemistry