Definition

A chemical group that comes from benzene, formed by taking away one hydrogen atom, and is often used in organic chemistry.

Example

Phenyl groups are commonly found in many organic compounds.

Conversation

Have you heard about the compound called phenyl?

Yeah, I think it's related to benzene, right?

Exactly! It's formed by removing one hydrogen atom from benzene to create a phenyl group.

That sounds interesting! I love learning about organic chemistry.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Phenyl is derived from 'phenol' (from Greek 'phaino' meaning to show or to appear) and the suffix '-yl' (used in chemistry to denote a radical or group derived from a compound). The term 'phenyl' refers to a specific group derived from phenol, which is a compound that shows certain properties in organic chemistry.

Memory Tip

Think of 'phenol' as a compound that 'shows' certain properties, and '-yl' indicates a group derived from it. This helps you remember that 'phenyl' refers to a group related to phenol.

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