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sulfonyl

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: //sʌlˈfɒnɪl//

KK: /sʌlˈfɔːnɪl/

noun
Definition

A chemical group consisting of a sulfur atom bonded to two oxygen atoms, often found in various chemical compounds.


Example

The sulfonyl group is important in the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals.


Conversation
Sloth A
Have you ever heard of a sulfonyl group in chemistry?
Sloth B
Yeah, I think it's related to sulfur compounds, right?
Sloth A
Exactly! It's fascinating how sulfonyl can affect the properties of different molecules.
Sloth B
For sure! Chemistry has so many interesting components like that.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
sulfuryl
Antonyms
Root Explanation

Sulfonyl is formed from "sulfur" (from Latin *sulfur*, meaning sulfur) and "-onyl" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a functional group). The word refers to a functional group containing sulfur, typically bonded to oxygen and carbon.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sulfur' as the key element in 'sulfonyl', which helps you remember that this term relates to a specific chemical group involving sulfur.

Visually Confused Words
sulphonyl
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