3-methyl-
|three-meth-yl|
/θriːˈmɛθəl/
methyl at position 3
Etymology
'3-methyl-' is formed by combining the numeric locant '3-' with 'methyl', where 'methyl' comes via New Latin/Modern French from Greek-derived chemical naming elements (ultimately from Greek components such as 'methy-' related to fermentation/wine and '-hyl(e)' meaning wood/substance).
'methyl' entered modern chemical vocabulary in the 19th century (via French/Latin coinages) as the name for the CH3 group; numeric locants such as '3-' were later standardized in systematic nomenclature (IUPAC), producing forms like '3-methyl-'.
Initially 'methyl' named the radical/group derived from methanol and related compounds; over time it became a standard substituent name and is now routinely used with locants (e.g., '3-methyl-') to specify substitution position.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the substituent name/combining form used in chemical nomenclature representing a methyl substituent at position 3 of a parent molecule.
In the name 3-methylbutane, '3-methyl-' is the substituent indicating the methyl group location.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
a chemical prefix (locant + substituent) indicating that a methyl group (–CH3) is attached at the 3 position of the parent carbon chain.
3-methyl-pentane denotes pentane with a methyl group attached at carbon 3.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/17 08:14