Common Organic Compounds and Functional Groups

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards detailing common organic compound classes, their corresponding functional groups, general formulas, and representative examples.

Alkanes

A class of organic compounds with general structure $R-H$ containing no functional group, exemplified by butane ($CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_3$).

Alkyl Halides

A class of organic compounds with general structure $R-X$ (where $X = F, Cl, Br, \text{ or } I$), exemplified by 1-chloropropane ($CH_3CH_2CH_2Cl$).

Alkenes

A class of organic compounds containing a carbon-carbon double bond with general structure $R-CH=CH-R'$, exemplified by but-1-ene ($CH_3CH_2-CH=CH_2$).

Alkynes

A class of organic compounds containing a carbon-carbon triple bond with general structure $R-C\equiv C-R'$, exemplified by but-2-yne ($CH_3-C\equiv C-CH_3$).

Aromatic Compounds

A class of organic compounds featuring a benzene ring ($Ar$), exemplified by benzene.

Alcohols

A class of organic compounds containing a hydroxy group with general structure $R-OH$, exemplified by ethanol ($CH_3CH_2-OH$).

Phenols

A class of organic compounds containing a hydroxy group directly attached to an aromatic ring ($Ar-OH$), exemplified by phenol.

Thiols

A class of organic compounds containing a sulfhydryl group with general structure $R-SH$, exemplified by methanethiol ($CH_3-SH$).

Ethers

A class of organic compounds containing an oxygen atom between two alkyl groups ($R-O-R$), exemplified by diethyl ether ($CH_3CH_2-O-CH_2CH_3$).

Thioethers

A class of organic compounds containing a sulfur atom between two alkyl groups ($R-S-R'$), exemplified by dimethyl sulfide ($CH_3-S-CH_3$).

Epoxides

A class of organic compounds containing an ether functional group in a 3-membered ring, exemplified by 1,2-epoxycyclohexane.

Ketones

A class of organic compounds containing a carbonyl group ($R-C(=O)-R'$), exemplified by acetone ($CH_3-C(=O)-CH_3$).

Aldehydes

A class of organic compounds containing a carbonyl group bound to a hydrogen atom ($R-C(=O)-H$), exemplified by propanal ($CH_3CH_2-C(=O)-H$).

Carboxylic Acids

A class of organic compounds containing a carboxyl group with general structure $R-C(=O)-OH$, exemplified by acetic acid ($CH_3-C(=O)-OH$).

Esters

A class of organic compounds containing a carboalkoxy group with general structure $R-C(=O)-O-R'$, exemplified by ethyl acetate ($CH_3-C(=O)-O-CH_2CH_3$).

Amides

A class of organic compounds containing a carboxamide group with general structure $R-C(=O)-NH_2$, exemplified by N,N-dimethylformamide ($H-C(=O)-N(CH_3)_2$).

Amines

A class of organic compounds containing an amino group with general structure $R-NH_2$, exemplified by ethylamine ($CH_3CH_2-NH_2$).

Nitriles

A class of organic compounds containing a cyano group with general structure $R-C\equiv N$, exemplified by propionitrile ($CH_3CH_2-C\equiv N$).

Nitroalkanes

A class of organic compounds containing a nitro group with general structure $R-NO_2$, exemplified by nitroethane ($CH_3CH_2-NO_2$).

Hydroxy Group

The functional group $-OH$, present in alcohols and on aromatic rings in phenols.

Sulfhydryl Group

The functional group $-SH$, present in thiols.

Carbonyl Group

The functional group featuring a carbon-oxygen double bond ($C=O$), present in ketones and aldehydes.

Carboxyl Group

The functional group $-C(=O)-OH$, present in carboxylic acids.

Carboalkoxy Group

The functional group $-C(=O)-O-R'$, present in esters.

Carboxamide Group

The functional group $-C(=O)-NH_2$, present in amides.

Amino Group

The functional group $-NH_2$, present in amines.

Cyano Group

The functional group $-C\equiv N$, present in nitriles.

Nitro Group

The functional group $-NO_2$, present in nitroalkanes.