Methyl group

<p>In <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a>, a methyl group is an <a href="/facts/Alkyl/vmEk8X4v">alkyl</a> derived from <a href="/facts/Methane/kBHneYnh">methane</a>, containing one <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a> atom <a href="/facts/Chemical_bond/ArNUMnIB">bonded</a> to three <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">hydrogen</a> atoms, having chemical formula CH3 (whereas normal methane has the formula CH4). In <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">formulas</a>, the group is often <a href="/facts/Skeletal_formula/RFcmIenv">abbreviated</a> as Me. This <a href="/facts/Hydrocarbon/Dcg95Ju5">hydrocarbon</a> group occurs in many <a href="/facts/Organic_compounds/gqCNaN45">organic compounds</a>. It is a very stable group in most molecules. While the methyl group is usually part of a larger <a href="/facts/Molecule/N9ljSfFq">molecule</a>, bonded to the rest of the molecule by a single covalent bond (−CH3), it can be found on its own in any of three forms: methanide <a href="/facts/Anion/wrbwhF3z">anion</a> (CH−3), methylium <a href="/facts/Cation/wrbwhF3z">cation</a> (CH+3) or methyl <a href="/facts/Radical_(chemistry)/qFymuVoT">radical</a> (CH•3). The anion has eight <a href="/facts/Valence_electron/mXPA15VP">valence electrons</a>, the radical seven and the cation six. All three forms are highly reactive and rarely observed.
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Methyl group open-in-new

Methyl group