noun
- Plural of acetyl; chemical groups or radicals containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, derived from acetic acid and commonly found in organic compounds.
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- The molecule contains two acetyl groups attached to the nitrogen atom.
- Acetyls are important functional groups in biochemistry and pharmaceutical synthesis.
- The enzyme catalyzes the transfer of acetyls from one molecule to another.
- Aspirin works by transferring an acetyl group to proteins in the body.
- The structure includes multiple acetyls that affect the compound's reactivity.