Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A functional group is a specific group of atoms within a molecule that determines the chemical behavior and reactions of that molecule. It is essentially the reactive part of a molecule that gives it its unique properties in organic chemistry.
An alkane is a hydrocarbon compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms connected by single bonds, forming part of the structure for many organic molecules.
Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of at least one carboxyl group (-COOH), which consists of a carbonyl and a hydroxyl group attached to the same carbon atom