Editing Epoxide (section)

{{Short description|Organic compounds with a carbon-carbon-oxygen ring}}
[[File:Epoxide generic.svg|thumb|A generic epoxide]]

In [[organic chemistry]], an '''epoxide''' is a cyclic [[ether]], where the ether forms a three-atom [[Ring (chemistry)|ring]]: two atoms of [[carbon]] and one atom of [[oxygen]].  This triangular structure has substantial [[ring strain]], making epoxides highly [[Reactivity (chemistry)|reactive]], more so than other ethers.  They are produced on a large scale for many applications.  In general, low molecular weight epoxides are colourless and [[nonpolar]], and often [[Volatility (chemistry)|volatile]].<ref name=UllmannEpoxides>{{Ullmann | author1 = Guenter Sienel | author2 = Robert Rieth | author3 = Kenneth T. Rowbottom | title = Epoxides | doi = 10.1002/14356007.a09_531}}</ref>