characteristic group

in organic nomenclature
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00976
A single heteroatom, for example, –Cl and =O; a heteroatom bearing one or more hydrogen atoms or other heteroatoms, for example, –NH2, –OH, –SO3H, –PO3H2 and IO2; or a heteroatomic group attached to or containing a single carbon atom, for example, –CHO, –C≡N, –COOH and –NCO, attached to a @P04405@.
Source:
Blue Book Guide, p. 13 [Terms] [Book]