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An alkyl group is a functional group of an organic chemical that contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, arranged in a chain. It is formed by removing a hydrogen atom from an alkane. Alkyl groups are typically represented by the general formula R, where R is a shorthand for the alkyl chain.

The simplest alkyl group is methyl, which has the formula CH3. It is derived from methane (CH4) by removing one hydrogen atom. 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 naming of alkyl groups follows the IUPAC nomenclature system, with prefixes indicating the number of carbon atoms in the chain (meth-, eth-, prop-, but-, etc.) followed by the suffix "-yl".

Alkyl groups are not typically stable on their own and are usually found as part of larger organic molecules. They play a crucial role in determining the physical and chemical properties of organic compounds. For instance, the length and branching of an alkyl chain can influence a molecule's boiling point, melting point, solubility, and reactivity. They are fundamental building blocks in organic chemistry and are present in a vast array of organic substances, including hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, and carboxylic acids. The presence and nature of alkyl substituents can significantly alter the electron distribution and steric hindrance within a molecule, thereby affecting its chemical behavior.