Answer to Question #170092 in Organic Chemistry for Sam

Question

What is R?

What is R group?

Explain any abbreviation you use.

You need to define the abbreviations used? What does R stands for?

Answer 1

R is an abbreviation for any group in which a carbon or hydrogen atom is attached to the rest of the molecule.

R groups are simply alkyl groups. When one Hydrogen from the terminal is removed alkyl groups are formed.

Examples, Methyl, Ethyl, etc.

The R-group could be any size alkane side group that contains fewer carbons than the parent carbon chain which contains the most carbons, by definition.

R can also be used as shorthand to represent classes of molecules:

R-OH is an alcohol

R-X is an alkyl halide

R-COOH is a carboxylic acid