Chem. [f. ACET- + AMIDE.]
1. The primary AMIDE in which the replacing acid radical is ACETYL; C2H3O.NH2; a white crystalline solid of nearly neutral properties.
1873. Williamson, Chem., § 282. Products formed like acetamide by the replacement of hydrogen in ammonia by a radical of chlorous properties are called amides.
1874. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 354. Acetamide is a colourless solid, fusing at 78°, and boiling at 222°.
1877. Watts, Fownes’ Chem., II. 379. Acetamide … crystallizes in long needles.
2. A series of analogous compounds, in which two or all three hydrogen atoms in ammonia NH3, are replaced by the radical acetyl (diacetamide, triacetamide), or in which one or two are replaced by acetyl, and one or two by other radicals, as ethyl-acetamide, ethyl-diacetamide, etc.
