Alquil

Alquil (alkyl) is a term used in organic chemistry to describe a substituent derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom. The alkyl group is typically represented by the symbol R, indicating a carbon-hydrogen chain attached to another molecule. Alkyl groups are saturated hydrocarbons consisting of carbon and hydrogen, and they can be straight-chain (unbranched) or branched.

Common examples of alkyl groups include methyl (CH3–), ethyl (C2H5–), propyl (C3H7–), and butyl (C4H9–). Branched variants such as isopropyl (CH3-CH(CH3)-) or tert-butyl ((CH3)3C–) illustrate how the carbon skeleton can vary while preserving the same general function as substituents. In nomenclature, the alkyl group is treated as a substituent, with prefixes like methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and so on, and special names such as isopropyl and tert-butyl used for common branched forms.

In chemical practice, alkyl groups play a central role as building blocks in synthesis, as components of larger molecules, and as substituents that influence physical and reactive properties. They participate in a wide range of reactions, including alkylation, where an alkyl group is transferred to another molecule, and in the formation of ethers, alcohols, and hydrocarbons. Alkyl groups are found across many fields, including pharmaceuticals, polymers, and data-rich organic compounds, where their hydrophobic character and steric properties can affect activity and mechanism.

Related concepts include the alkyl radical, alkyl halides (alkyl groups bonded to halogens), and the broader families of alkanes and alkenes.