Amides are neutral compounds -- in contrast to their seemingly close relatives, the amines, which are basic. The amide linkage is planar -- even though we normally show the C-N connected by a single bond, which should provide free rotation.
Alcohols, phenols, ethers, amines and halides consist of alkyl and/or aryl groups bonded to hydroxyl, alkoxyl, amino and halo substituents respectively. If these functional groups are attached to an acyl group (RCO–) their properties are substantially changed. These are "carboxylic acid derivatives."
Amides are neutral compounds -- in contrast to their seemingly close relatives, the amines, which are basic. The amide linkage is planar -- even though we normally show the C-N connected by a single bond, which should provide free rotation.