vinyyliryhmästä

Vinyyliryhmä, or vinyl group in English, is a functional group in organic chemistry. It is characterized by a carbon-carbon double bond where one of the carbon atoms is attached to a hydrogen atom, and the other carbon atom is attached to the rest of the molecule. The empirical formula for the vinyl group is C2H3. It is also sometimes referred to as an ethenyl group.

The presence of the double bond makes the vinyl group reactive. This reactivity allows it to participate in addition reactions, where new atoms or groups can be added across the double bond. A common and important reaction involving vinyl groups is polymerization. In this process, many vinyl monomers link together to form long chains, creating polymers.

The most well-known example of a polymer derived from a vinyl group is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is a widely used plastic found in pipes, window frames, flooring, and numerous other applications. Other common polymers that incorporate vinyl groups include polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene. The versatility and diverse applications of these polymers highlight the significance of the vinyl group in materials science and everyday life. Its ability to readily form repeating units makes it a fundamental building block in the synthesis of many important organic compounds and materials.