In organic chemistry, the term vinyl refers to a specific type of functional group or substituent derived from ethylene (ethene), which is the simplest alkene.
A vinyl group is represented by the formula -CH=CH2. It consists of a carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) where one of the carbon atoms in the double bond is connected to another substituent group, and the other carbon is connected to two hydrogen atoms.
Vinyl compounds are significant in organic chemistry because they serve as building blocks for a wide range of polymers and other chemical compounds. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a common plastic made from the polymerization of vinyl chloride, which has a vinyl functional group.
In summary, vinyl groups are important in organic chemistry due to their reactivity and the role they play in forming various chemical structures, particularly in the context of polymer chemistry.