# alkyl

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alkyl
Updated: 2026-05-25

## Definition

a part of a chemical compound that is made of only carbon and hydrogen. It is like a branch that sticks out from a main chain of atoms.

For teachers: a functional group in organic chemistry consisting of a chain of carbon atoms with single bonds and hydrogen atoms. It is derived from an alkane by the removal of one hydrogen atom.

## Examples

- The chemist added an alkyl group to the molecule.
- In the laboratory, students learned how to identify an alkyl chain within a complex organic structure.
- The stability of the alkyl group depends on the number of carbon atoms in the chain, with longer chains generally providing more structural integrity to the overall compound.

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