Functional groups and what they make

Hydroxyl

-OH

-O-H

• Polar and hydrophilic • Compounds containing this are called alcohols (e.g., ethanol).

Carbonyl

>C=O

Carbon double-bonded to an Oxygen

• Polar and hydrophilic • Called an aldehyde if at the end of a skeleton. • Called a ketone if located within the chain.

Carboxyl

-COOH

Carbon double-bonded to Oxygen and single-bonded to -OH

• Polar, hydrophilic, and acidic. • Acts as an acid by donating an H+ ion to a solution, becoming ionized (-COO-). • Found in carboxylic acids.

Amino

-NH2

Nitrogen bonded to two Hydrogens

• Polar, hydrophilic, and basic. • Acts as a base by picking up an H+ ion from a solution, becoming ionized (-NH3+). • Found in amines (building blocks of proteins contain both amino and carboxyl groups).

Phosphate

-OPO3²-

Phosphorus bonded to four Oxygen atoms (one double bond)

• Polar, hydrophilic, and highly negatively charged (2 negative charges). • Involved in energy transfers (key component of ATP). • Found in organic phosphates.

Methyl

-CH3

Carbon bonded to three Hydrogens

• Nonpolar and hydrophobic (unreactive). • Directly affects molecular shape. • Found in methylated compounds (e.g., attached to DNA to affect gene expression).s