Organic Chemistry 1 Important Functional Groups

Alkane

A hydrocarbon containing only single covalent bonds (C-C)

Alkene

A hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C).

Alkyne

A hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (C≡C)

Alcohol

A hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to a saturated (sp3 hybridized) carbon atom (R-OH)

Aromatic ring

Six carbon ring with alternating double and single bonds (BENZENE)

Phenol

Benzene ring with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached ("Phen"-"ol" phenyl alcohol)

Aldehyde

A terminal functional group that contains a carbonyl group bonded to at least one hydrogen atom (condensed formula: R-CHO)

Ketone

A non-terminal functional group in which the carbonyl group is bonded to two other carbons or alkyl chains (condensed formula: RCOR')

carboxylic acid

A terminal functional group in which the carbonyl group is bonded to a hydroxyl group (-OH) (condensed formula: R-COOH)

Ester

A carbonyl group bonded to an alkoxy group (R-O) think carbonyl ether (condensed formula: R-COOR)

Ether

An oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl chains easiest way to remember R-O-R

Amine

A basic Nitrogen atom with a lone pair (Can be bonded to alkyl chains or hydrogens)

Amide

A functional group containing a carbonyl group bonded to a Nitrogen atom (the nitrogen can be substituted as well)

Alkyl halide

An alkane in which one of the hydrogens has been replaced by a halogen (F, Cl, Br, I)

Nitrile

A functional group containing a Carbon-Nitrogen triple bond (condensed formula: R-CN)

Thiol

A functional group containing a sulfur bonded to a hydrogen atom.

Sulfide

A functional group consisting of a sulfur atom bonded to two carbon atoms. Very similar to an ether except the oxygen is replaced by a sulfur.

Anhydride

A functional group containing two carbonyls separated by an oxygen atom (RCOOCOR); often the condensation dimer of a carboxylic acid.