Functional Group
Category: Functional Groups and Compounds
Molecules are characterized by specific arrangements of atoms, which serve as a determinant of their reactivity in chemical reactions. These atomic patterns, known as functional groups, dictate how a molecule will behave when interacting with other molecules during a reaction, regardless of its overall molecular structure. Much like a group of similar cells that perform a function in a biological system, functional groups consistently carry out specific chemical roles within molecules, making them crucial to understanding chemical behavior.,
Common Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry
| Functional Group | Structure | Example Compound | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroxyl | –OH | Ethanol | Polar, forms hydrogen bonds |
| Carbonyl | >C=O | Acetone | Reactive, found in ketones and aldehydes |
| Carboxyl | –COOH | Acetic acid | Acidic, found in organic acids |
| Amino | –NH₂ | Glycine | Basic, found in amino acids |
| Ether | R–O–R’ | Diethyl ether | Nonpolar, used as solvents |
| Ester | –COOR | Ethyl acetate | Fruity smell, used in fragrances |
| Halide | –X (F, Cl, Br, I) | Chloroform | Varies, often reactive |