Allyl

/ˈælɪl/ noun

Definition

A chemical group or radical consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms (C₃H₅), commonly found in organic molecules and used in plastics and other chemicals.

Etymology

Created in the 19th century from Latin 'allium' (garlic, because allyl compounds have a garlic-like smell) plus the chemical suffix '-yl.' The name literally means 'of garlic,' referring to its distinctive odor.

Kelly Says

Allyl compounds literally smell like garlic and onions!—that pungent smell you notice when you cut into a garlic clove comes from allyl sulfide compounds, so the name is perfectly descriptive of what chemists noticed first!

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