Heteroatom

In chemistry, a heteroatom (from Ancient Greek heteros 'different' and atomos 'uncut') is, strictly, any atom that is not carbon or hydrogen.[1] In practice, the term is mainly used more specifically to indicate that non-carbon atoms have replaced carbon in the backbone of the molecular structure.Typical heteroatoms are nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), and iodine (I),[2][3] as well as the metals lithium (Li) and magnesium (Mg).In the description of protein structure, in particular in the Protein Data Bank file format, a heteroatom record (HETATM) describes an atom as belonging to a small molecule cofactor rather than being part of a biopolymer chain.[4] In the context of zeolites, the term heteroatom refers to partial isomorphous substitution of the typical framework atoms (silicon, aluminium, and phosphorus) by other elements such as beryllium, vanadium, and chromium.
Pyridine is a heterocyclic compound and the heteroatom is nitrogen.
Pyridineheterocyclic compoundchemistryAncient GreekcarbonhydrogennitrogenoxygensulfurphosphoruschlorinebromineiodinelithiummagnesiumproteinProtein Data BankbiopolymerzeolitessiliconaluminiumberylliumvanadiumchromiumLewis aciditycatalysis