Mercapto Group Definition

A chemical group showing a mercapto group
The left-hand side of this chemical group (cysteine) is a mercapto group. Todd Helmenstine
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Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on March 24, 2019

Definition: A mercapto group is a fuctional group containing a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. General formula: -SH

This is the chemical structure of cysteine.
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What Is a Thiol Group?
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Also Known As: thiol group, sulfanyl group

Examples: The amino acid cysteine contains a mercapto group.

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Mercapto Group Definition." ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/definition-of-mercapto-group-605335. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 25). Mercapto Group Definition. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-mercapto-group-605335 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Mercapto Group Definition." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-mercapto-group-605335 (accessed April 20, 2024).