dimer

(dī'mər)

1. A molecule consisting of two identical simpler molecules.
2. A chemical compound consisting of such molecules.

[DI-¹ + (POLY)MER.]

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An association of two identical molecules linked together. The molecules may react to form a larger molecule, as in the formation of dinitrogen tetroxide (N₂O₄) from nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), or the formation of an aluminium chloride dimer (Al₂Cl₆) in the vapour. Alternatively, they may be held by hydrogen bonds. For example, carboxylic acids form dimers in organic solvents, in which hydrogen bonds exist between the O of the C=O group and the H of the –O-H group.

1. any molecular structure of any size in which two initially identical chemical entities have become covalently combined.
2. any macromolecular structure in which two (either identical or nonidentical) subunits are noncovalently associated. See also heterodimer, homodimer.

Chemical compound formed by the union of two identical molecules.

Dimer may refer to:

• Dimer (chemistry), a chemical structure formed from two sub-units
• Dimer model, an item in statistical mechanics
• Protein dimer, a protein quaternary structure
• Julius Dimer (1871–1945), a German chess master

Dimerous refer to plants with organ arrangement based on the number 2, see : merosity.

See also

• Di (disambiguation), a prefix
• -mer, a suffix
• Oligomer

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