A functional group in organic chemistry consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, found in aldehydes, ketones, and other organic compounds.
From carbon + -yl (chemical suffix from Greek hyle, 'substance'). This systematic chemical term emerged in the 19th century as organic chemistry developed.
Carbonyl groups are everywhere in your body—they're in the acetone on your breath, in glucose that fuels your cells, and in the vanilla flavoring in ice cream, making this tiny chemical arrangement one of life's fundamental building blocks.
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