Formyyliryhmä

Formyyliryhmä is the Finnish term for the formyl group. A formyl group is a functional group in organic chemistry with the chemical formula -CHO. It consists of a carbonyl group (C=O) where the carbon atom is bonded to a hydrogen atom. This specific arrangement of atoms is also known as an aldehyde group when it is part of a larger molecule.

The formyl group is a key component in aldehydes, a class of organic compounds. Aldehydes are characterized by the presence of at least one formyl group attached to an alkyl or aryl group. For example, the simplest aldehyde, methanal, has the formula CH2O and is often called formaldehyde. Its structure is HCHO, meaning the carbon atom of the formyl group is bonded to a hydrogen atom and also to another hydrogen atom.

The formyl group is reactive due to the polarity of the carbonyl double bond. The carbon atom is electrophilic, making it susceptible to nucleophilic attack. This reactivity is central to many organic reactions, including oxidation, reduction, and addition reactions. Formyl groups can be readily oxidized to carboxylic acids or reduced to primary alcohols. The presence of a formyl group significantly influences the physical and chemical properties of a molecule.