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alkyl group

American

noun

Chemistry.

any of a series of univalent groups of the general formula C n H 2n+1 , derived from aliphatic hydrocarbons, as the methyl group, CH 3 −, or ethyl group, C 2 H 5 −.

Example Sentences

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We call a substituent that contains one less hydrogen than the corresponding alkane an alkyl group.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The name of an alkyl group is obtained by dropping the suffix -ane of the alkane name and adding -yl:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The location of an alkyl group on a hydrocarbon chain is indicated in the same way as any other substituent:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

As shown in the following compound, the red symbols represent the smaller alkyl group and the oxygen atom, which would be named “methoxy.”

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

By heating with phosphorus pentachloride an alkyl group is eliminated and a chlorcarbonic ester formed.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various

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