Alkyl halides

Definition

Alkyl halides are organic compounds in which one or more hydrogen atoms in an alkane (saturated hydrocarbon) have been replaced by a halogen atom such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. They are a type of functional group characterized by the presence of a carbon-halogen bond.

Related terms

Alkanes:

Hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms.

Halogens:

A group of elements on the periodic table that includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, known for their reactivity.

Functional Group:

Specific groups of atoms within molecules that have characteristic properties and reactions regardless of the other atoms present in the molecule