🥼organic chemistry review

Phenyl group

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

A phenyl group is a functional group or side chain that is derived from benzene by removing one hydrogen atom. It consists of a ring of six carbon atoms bonded together in a hexagonal planar shape with alternating double and single bonds, symbolized as C6H5-.