'Carboxyl group' or carboxy group -
COOH or CO
2H is a
functional group present in
amino acids and
carboxylic acids. Its structure composed of one carbon atom attached to an oxygen atom by
double bond and to a
hydroxyl group by a
single bond. It is often mentioned that a carboxyl group is a
carbonyl group bonded to a
hydroxyl group. The carboxyl group has one
valence electron in its carbon atom, making it possible to be a part in a larger
molecule by bonding through it.
See also
★
Amino acid
★
Carboxylic acid
References
★
Entry from the Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight.
★
Highbeam Encyclopedia.