methyl

noun

1. The univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH₃-, formally derived from methane by the loss of a hydrogen atom; a compound or part of a compound formed by the attachment of such a radical.

   “You might point out in the theory of oxidation of oils, in development of rancidity in oils, that many methyls accelerate this oxidation of oils. I do not want to burden you with a lecture on chemistry but there are some methyls like iron which has both a valence of two and of three. Another example is cobalt which has a valence of both two and three.”

   “The southern acetates must be decarboxylated to methyls.”

   “The most stable form has the groups staggered and the methyls as far from each other as possible (DA^([dihedral angle]) = 180°).”