Side chain

In organic chemistry and biochemistry, a side chain is a chemical group that is attached to a core part of the molecule called the "main chain" or backbone. The side chain is a hydrocarbon branching element of a molecule that is attached to a larger hydrocarbon backbone. It is one factor in determining a molecule's properties and reactivity. A side chain is also known as a pendant chain, but a pendant group (side group) has a different definition.

This article is about the chemistry term. For other uses, see Side-chain (disambiguation).
This article is about the side chain of any type of long molecule. For replacement of a hydrogen atom on a hydrocarbon chain, see Substituent.
IUPAC definition

Branch
Side-chain
Pendant chain
An oligomeric or polymeric offshoot from a macromolecular chain.

Notes

  1. An oligomeric branch may be termed a short-chain branch.
  2. A polymeric branch may be termed a long-chain branch.
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