alküülgrupi

An alküülgrupp, often simply referred to as an alkyl group, is a type of functional group in organic chemistry. It is derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they consist solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms joined by single bonds, with the general formula CnH2n+2. When one hydrogen atom is removed from an alkane, it becomes an alkyl group with the general formula CnH2n+1.

The simplest alkyl group is the methyl group, CH3-, which is derived from methane (CH4). Other common alkyl groups include ethyl (C2H5-), derived from ethane (C2H6), propyl (C3H7-), derived from propane (C3H8), and butyl (C4H9-), derived from butane (C4H10). The structure of the alkyl group depends on which hydrogen atom is removed from the parent alkane. For alkanes with more than three carbon atoms, different isomeric alkyl groups can be formed. For instance, the propyl group can be either n-propyl (attached to the end carbon) or isopropyl (attached to the middle carbon).

Alkyl groups are typically nonpolar due to the similar electronegativity of carbon and hydrogen. They are often found as substituents attached to a larger molecule, influencing its properties. They can be attached to various atoms, such as oxygen in ethers, nitrogen in amines, or carbon in larger organic structures. The term "alkyl" is a portmanteau of "alkane" and the suffix "-yl," indicating a group or radical.