karbonüüllrühmast

A carbonyl group is a functional group in organic chemistry that consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom. The formula for a carbonyl group is typically represented as C=O. This group is a key structural feature in many important classes of organic compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, and amides. The polarity of the carbon-oxygen double bond, due to the significant difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen, makes the carbonyl carbon electrophilic and the carbonyl oxygen nucleophilic. This reactivity is central to many chemical reactions involving carbonyl compounds.

Aldehydes and ketones are characterized by the carbonyl group. In aldehydes, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to at least one hydrogen atom and one alkyl or aryl group. In ketones, the carbonyl carbon is bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups. Carboxylic acids contain a carbonyl group bonded to a hydroxyl (-OH) group. Esters are derivatives of carboxylic acids where the hydroxyl hydrogen is replaced by an alkyl or aryl group. Amides are similar to esters but have the hydroxyl group replaced by an amino (-NR2) group. The physical and chemical properties of these compounds, such as solubility, boiling point, and reactivity, are heavily influenced by the presence and position of the carbonyl group. Its presence is fundamental to biological processes, forming the backbone of carbohydrates and playing roles in protein and nucleic acid structures.