A Level Chemistry OCR Practice Exam

Removing a hydrogen atom from an alkane leads to the formation of an alkyl group. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they contain only single bonds between carbon atoms and are fully saturated with hydrogen. When one hydrogen atom is removed, what remains is a fragment of the alkane that consists of the carbon skeleton but is no longer fully saturated. This part is referred to as an alkyl group.

Alkyl groups are often represented as "R" in chemical structures and are foundational components in organic chemistry, providing the basis for other compounds and reactions. The removal of the hydrogen atom results in a carbon atom bonded to fewer hydrogen atoms, hence giving it the ability to bond with other atoms or groups, which is the essence of an alkyl group.