2.3: Functional Groups
- Page ID
- 501375
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Previously, we considered several kinds of hydrocarbons. Now we examine some of the many organic compounds that contain functional groups. 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. In this chapter, we make a brief yet systematic study of some of organic compound families. Each family is based on a common, simple functional group that contains an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom. Some common functional groups are listed in Table \(\PageIndex{1}\).
| 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.