Header image of wall of bricks Open menu Close menu

-yl

Also ‑oyl.

Forming names of chemical radicals.

Greek hulē, material, matter.

Examples include acetyl, the radical CH3CO- derived from acetic acid; benzyl, the C6H5CH2‑ group from toluene; carbonyl, the CO- group; ethyl, the C2H5‑ group from ethane; hydroxyl, the -OH group; methyl, the CH3‑ group from methane; and phenyl, the C6H5‑ group from benzene.

The ending ‑oyl forms the names of acid radicals from associated carboxylic acids, whose names end in ‑oic: benzoyl from benzoic acid, caproyl from caproic acid, pantoyl from pantanoic acid.

Copyright © Michael Quinion 2008–. All rights reserved. Your comments are very welcome.