Alkyl group

Different ways of drawing the structure of the isobutyl group, an alkyl group with branches.

Alkyl groups are made of chemicals with carbon atoms. They are like alkanes but they have one fewer hydrogen atom. An alkyl is a piece of a molecule that makes it do or act a certain way. Alkyls have only carbon and hydrogen atoms, which can be one long chain or have multiple branches.

Alkyl groups have the formula C
nH
2n+1, where n can be any whole number as long if it is the same one. (For example, if there are two carbons, there must be five hydrogens because 2*2+1=5.)

Alkyl Group Media

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  Structure of isopropyl group

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  methyl group

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  Structural formula of the chemical compound 3-methylpentane with main branch and alkyl group highlighted.

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  2,3,3-triMethylPentane with alkyl groups highlighted.

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  Skeletal diagram of n-butyl, SVG format

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  Skeletal diagram of isobutyl, SVG format

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  Skeletal diagram of sec-butyl, SVG format

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  Skeletal diagram of tert-butyl, SVG format