Definition

A chemical group that comes from toluene, consisting of a benzene ring attached to a -CH2- group.

Example

Benzyl alcohol is commonly used in the production of fragrances and flavorings.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of benzyl compounds in chemistry?

Yeah, I think I've come across that term before.

I was reading about it and found out it's derived from toluene.

That makes sense! Toluene is pretty common in organic chemistry.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Benzyl is derived from 'benzoin' (from Arabic *lūbān al-jawī* meaning gum resin) and the suffix '-yl' (used in chemistry to denote a radical or group). The term benzyl refers to a specific chemical group derived from benzoin, indicating its structure in organic chemistry.

Memory Tip

Think of 'benzoin' as the source of the chemical group, and remember that 'benzyl' refers to a part of that structure in chemistry.

Visually Confused Words