upgrade
upgrade

Organic Chemistry Functional Groups

Study smarter with Fiveable

Get study guides, practice questions, and cheatsheets for all your subjects. Join 500,000+ students with a 96% pass rate.

Get Started

Functional groups are key players in organic chemistry, defining the behavior and properties of compounds. Understanding these groups, like alkyls, alkenes, and alcohols, helps us grasp how molecules interact and react in various chemical processes.

  1. Alkyl (R-)

    • Represents a hydrocarbon chain or branch.
    • General formula: CnH2n+1.
    • Commonly used as substituents in organic compounds.

  2. Alkene (R-CH=CH-R)

    • Contains at least one carbon-carbon double bond.
    • General formula: CnH2n.
    • Exhibits geometric isomerism due to the double bond.

  3. Alkyne (R-C≡C-R)

    • Contains at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.
    • General formula: CnH2n-2.
    • Typically more reactive than alkenes due to the triple bond.

  4. Alcohol (-OH)

    • Characterized by the presence of a hydroxyl group.
    • General formula: R-OH.
    • Can act as both a weak acid and a weak base.

  5. Ether (R-O-R)

    • Contains an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups.
    • Generally less reactive than alcohols and phenols.
    • Commonly used as solvents in organic reactions.

  6. Aldehyde (-CHO)

    • Contains a carbonyl group (C=O) at the end of a carbon chain.
    • General formula: R-CHO.
    • Often used in the synthesis of other organic compounds.

  7. Ketone (R-CO-R)

    • Contains a carbonyl group (C=O) within a carbon chain.
    • General formula: R-CO-R.
    • Commonly found in solvents and as intermediates in organic reactions.

  8. Carboxylic acid (-COOH)

    • Contains a carboxyl group (COOH), which is a combination of a carbonyl and a hydroxyl group.
    • General formula: R-COOH.
    • Exhibits acidic properties due to the release of H+ ions.

  9. Ester (R-COO-R)

    • Formed from the reaction of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.
    • Characterized by a carbonyl adjacent to an ether-like oxygen.
    • Commonly found in fats and oils, contributing to their flavors and fragrances.

  10. Amine (-NH2)

    • Contains a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more alkyl or aryl groups.
    • General formula: R-NH2 (for primary amines).
    • Acts as a base and can form hydrogen bonds.

  11. Amide (-CONH2)

    • Contains a carbonyl group (C=O) directly attached to a nitrogen atom.
    • General formula: R-CONH2.
    • Important in the formation of proteins and peptides.

  12. Halide (-X, where X is F, Cl, Br, or I)

    • Contains a halogen atom bonded to a carbon atom.
    • Can be classified as alkyl halides or aryl halides.
    • Often used in organic synthesis and as solvents.

  13. Nitro (-NO2)

    • Contains a nitro group, which consists of a nitrogen atom bonded to two oxygen atoms.
    • General formula: R-NO2.
    • Commonly used in explosives and as a functional group in pharmaceuticals.

  14. Thiol (-SH)

    • Contains a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom.
    • General formula: R-SH.
    • Known for their strong odors and are important in biological systems.

  15. Phenyl (C6H5-)

    • A cyclic structure derived from benzene, with one hydrogen removed.
    • Acts as a substituent in various organic compounds.
    • Contributes to the aromatic properties of compounds.