What is the functional group of thiol compounds?

Thiol compounds are characterized by the presence of the sulfhydryl group, which is represented as -SH. This functional group consists of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. The presence of the sulfur atom is what distinguishes thiols from alcohols, which contain the hydroxyl group (-OH), and from amines, which have the amino group (-NH2).

Thiol groups play a significant role in the chemistry of many biological molecules, as they can participate in various reactions, including the formation of disulfide bonds that are critical for the structure of proteins. The unique properties of the -SH group, such as its ability to form covalent bonds with other thiol groups, contribute to the versatile functionality of thiols in organic chemistry and biochemistry.