monoalkyl

A monoalkyl group is a substituent group derived from an alkane by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Alkyl groups are saturated hydrocarbon chains, meaning they contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. The general formula for a monoalkyl group is CnH2n+1, where 'n' represents the number of carbon atoms. For example, a methyl group (CH3-) is derived from methane (CH4) by removing one hydrogen. An ethyl group (CH3CH2-) is derived from ethane (CH2CH3) by removing one hydrogen.

Monoalkyl groups are commonly found as side chains attached to a larger molecule, such as in organic compounds. They are typically nonpolar due to the equal sharing of electrons between carbon and hydrogen atoms. The properties of a molecule containing a monoalkyl group are influenced by the size and branching of the alkyl chain. Longer or more branched alkyl chains generally increase the lipophilicity (fat-solubility) of a compound and can affect its boiling point and viscosity.

In chemical nomenclature, monoalkyl groups are named based on the parent alkane. For instance, a one-carbon alkyl group is methyl, a two-carbon group is ethyl, a three-carbon group is propyl (which can be either n-propyl or isopropyl depending on the attachment point), and so on. They are considered saturated functional groups and do not typically participate in reactions themselves, but their presence can influence the reactivity of other parts of the molecule.