A functional group in organic chemistry consisting of a carbon atom bonded to an oxygen and a hydroxyl group (-COOH), found in all carboxylic acids.
From carbon + oxygen + -yl (radical suffix). The term was formalized in the 19th century as organic chemistry systematized compound nomenclature and functional groups.
The carboxyl group is one of the most important functional groups in chemistry—it's the heart of every amino acid, every fatty acid, and every protein in your body. It's the reason why life is acidic and why chemical reactions can even happen in biological systems.
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