The word "carbonyl" is a chemistry term used to describe a functional group consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom. The correct spelling of "carbonyl" is /kɑrˈbɒn.ɪl/, with emphasis on the second syllable. The "c" is pronounced as a /k/ sound, the "b" as a voiced /b/ sound, and the "n" as a /n/ sound. The "o" is pronounced as a short vowel /ɑ/ and the "y" as a /ˈj/ sound. Lastly, the "l" is pronounced as a /l/ sound.
Carbonyl refers to a functional group in organic chemistry that consists of a carbon atom bonded to an oxygen atom via a double bond. The carbonyl group is denoted as C=O and is a key feature present in a wide range of compounds. Its name is derived from the combination of the words "carbon" and "oxygen."
The carbonyl group can be found in numerous classes of compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, amides, esters, and many other organic molecules. This group imparts characteristic chemical properties to these compounds, as it is highly polar due to the electronegativity difference between carbon and oxygen.
Carbonyl compounds are known for their reactivity, participating in various chemical reactions. For instance, carbonyl compounds can undergo nucleophilic addition reactions, where nucleophiles attack the carbon or oxygen atom of the carbonyl group. This leads to the formation of new bonds and the generation of different functional groups.
The presence of carbonyl groups also plays a vital role in determining the physical and chemical properties of organic compounds. For example, the polarity of the carbonyl group influences the boiling points and solubilities of these compounds.
In summary, carbonyl is a functional group in organic chemistry consisting of an oxygen atom double-bonded to a carbon atom (C=O). It is found in various organic compounds and imparts distinctive reactivity and physical properties to the molecules that contain it.
The characterizing group (CO) of the ketones.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "carbonyl" is derived from the combination of two Latin terms: "carbonem" meaning "charcoal" or "carbon", and "oleum" meaning "oil". The term was coined in the mid-19th century by the German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann. It was used to describe a functional group consisting of a carbon atom with a double bond to an oxygen atom, commonly represented as >C=O. Later, this term was expanded to include compounds containing the carbonyl group, leading to the use of "carbonyl" to describe a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds.