Acetyl group

In <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a>, an acetyl group is a <a href="/facts/Functional_group/GXkSPsjM">functional group</a> denoted by the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">chemical formula</a> −COCH3 and the <a href="/facts/Chemical_structure/r5rT1Lj4">structure</a> −C(=O)−CH3. It is <a href="/facts/Skeletal_formula/RFcmIenv">sometimes represented</a> by the symbol Ac (not to be confused with the element <a href="/facts/Actinium/GMQtJ4Gm">actinium</a>). In <a href="/facts/IUPAC_nomenclature_of_chemistry/pepvzNun">IUPAC nomenclature</a>, an acetyl group is called an ethanoyl group.
An acetyl group contains a <a href="/facts/Methyl/fkM97EMD">methyl</a> group (−CH3) that is <a href="/facts/Single-bond/8qz02fEl">single-bonded</a> to a <a href="/facts/Carbonyl/KJ71bo3X">carbonyl</a> (C=O), making it an <a href="/facts/Acyl_group/1vRPrmUX">acyl group</a>. The carbonyl center of an acyl <a href="/facts/Radical_(chemistry)/qFymuVoT">radical</a> has one non-bonded <a href="/facts/Electron/L0KBo5cW">electron</a> with which it forms a <a href="/facts/Chemical_bond/ArNUMnIB">chemical bond</a> to the remainder (denoted with the letter R) of the molecule.
The acetyl <a href="/facts/Moiety_(chemistry)/WxKqcJe1">moiety</a> is a component of many <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compounds</a>, including <a href="/facts/Acetic_acid/uyBKA2Pd">acetic acid</a>, the <a href="/facts/Neurotransmitter/LlpYFSU3">neurotransmitter</a> <a href="/facts/Acetylcholine/v1d3wRUd">acetylcholine</a>, <a href="/facts/Acetyl-CoA/XyxFfC84">acetyl-CoA</a>, <a href="/facts/Acetylcysteine/78TaGKtg">acetylcysteine</a>, <a href="/facts/Acetaminophen/SNDfQWcf">acetaminophen</a> (also known as paracetamol), and acetylsalicylic acid (also known as <a href="/facts/Aspirin/opMK4qLk">aspirin</a>).

Acetyl group open-in-new

Acetyl group