What is "nitryl"

Nitryl \Ni"tryl\, n. [Nitro- + -yl.] (Chem.) A name sometimes given to the nitro group or radical.

n. (context inorganic chemistry especially in combination English) The univalent radical -NO₂

Nitryl is the nitrogen dioxide (NO) moiety when it occurs in a larger compound. Examples include nitryl fluoride (NOF) and nitryl chloride (NOCl).

Like nitrogen dioxide, the nitryl moiety contains a nitrogen atom with two bonds to the two oxygen atoms, and a third bond shared equally between the nitrogen and the two oxygen atoms. The nitrogen-centred radical is then free to condense with another radical (X) to produce an N-X bond, where X can be F, Cl, OH, etc.