methylene

adjective Chemistry.

1. containing the methylene group.

noun

1. (modifier) of, consisting of, or containing the divalent group of atoms =CH 2a methylene group or radical

n.1835, from French méthylène (1834), coined by Jean-Baptiste-André Dumas (1800-1884) and Eugène-Melchior Péligot (1811-1890) from Greek methy “wine” (see mead (n.1)) + -yl “stuff” + chemical suffix -ene. So called because detected in wood alcohol. n.

1. A bivalent hydrocarbon radical, CH2, that is a component of unsaturated hydrocarbons and is derived from methane by the removal of two hydrogen atoms.

1. A bivalent hydrocarbon radical, CH2. Because it has two unshared electrons, it is extremely reactive and occurs only as an intermediate byproduct in chemical reactions. Methylene is a component of unsaturated hydrocarbons.