Meaning & use
carbonyl group
A functional group in organic chemistry consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom.
See it in a sentence
Aldehydes and ketones are both classified by the position of the carbonyl group in the molecule.
The carbonyl group gives many organic compounds their characteristic reactivity toward nucleophiles.
A note on using this word
Written C=O, the carbonyl group is the defining feature of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, and amides.
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