Question

What is alpha carbon and alpha hydrogen?

Answer 1

The alpha carbon (Cα) in organic molecules refers to the first carbon atom that attaches to a functional group, such as a carbonyl.

An α carbon is the one which is attached directly to the functional group. and the hydrogen attached to the α carbon is called α hydrogen.

In ßCH3-αCH2-OH the -CH2 is the α carbon and the two H atoms attached to it are α hydrogen.