Alkyl halide

Definition

An alkyl halide is an organic compound in which one or more hydrogen atoms in an alkane (saturated hydrocarbon) have been replaced by a halogen atom (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine). This substitution results in a molecule with distinct chemical and physical properties compared to its alkane precursor.

Related terms

Alkane:

A hydrocarbon compound consisting only of carbon and hydrogen atoms arranged in a tree-like structure without any double or triple bonds.

Halogenation:

The chemical reaction that involves the addition of one or more halogens to a compound, often resulting in alkyl halides.

Functional Group:

A specific group of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules