Side chain

A side chain in organic chemistry and biochemistry is a part of a molecule that is attached to a core structure. An R group is a generic label for a side chain which can be anything; however, it is typically stable and covalently linked to the adjoining atom. Historically the abbreviations R and R-group, which often refer to side chains, come from the word "radical" , "rest" or "residue".

See also

• Functional group