1.1: Functional Groups in Organic Compounds
- Page ID
- 227523
Learning Objectives
- to describe functional groups and explain why they are useful in the study of organic chemistry.
We first introduced the idea of the functional group, a specific structural arrangement of atoms or bonds that imparts a characteristic chemical reactivity to the molecule. If you understand the behavior of a particular functional group, you will know a great deal about the general properties of that class of compounds. Some common functional groups are listed in Table \(\PageIndex{1}\).
Last semester, we studied alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic, alcohols, thiols, ethers, and phenols. This semester, we will begin with aldehydes and ketones as our first functional groups
Name of Family | General Formula | Functional Group | Suffix* |
---|---|---|---|
alkane | RH | none | -ane |
alkene | R2C=CR2 | -ene | |
alkyne | RC≡CR | –C≡C– | -yne |
alcohol | ROH | –OH | -ol |
thiol | RSH | –SH | -thiol |
ether | ROR | –O– | ether |
aldehyde | -al | ||
ketone | -one | ||
carboxylic acid | -oic acid | ||
*Ethers do not have a suffix in their common name; all ethers end with the word ether. |
Summary
The functional group, a structural arrangement of atoms and/or bonds, is largely responsible for the properties of organic compound families.
Concept Review Exercises
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What is the functional group of an alkene? An alkyne?
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Does CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 have a functional group? Explain.
Answers
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carbon-to-carbon double bond; carbon-to-carbon triple bond
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No; it has nothing but carbon and hydrogen atoms and all single bonds.
Exercises
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What is the functional group of 1-butanol (CH3CH2CH2CH2OH)?
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What is the functional group of butyl bromide, CH3CH2CH2CH2Br?
Answer
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OH