Organic Chemistry Functional Groups and Structures

Vocabulary flashcards defining functional groups, carbon bonding structures, and carbonyl compounds from organic chemistry lecture notes.

Functional group

A group of atoms with a chemical function, excluding carbons and hydrogens.

Alkanes

Hydrocarbons containing only $C-C$ and $C-H$ $\sigma$ bonds.

Alkenes

Hydrocarbons containing a $C=C$ double bond.

Alkynes

Hydrocarbons containing a $C \equiv C$ triple bond.

Aromatic Hydrocarbon

Only need to know benzene ($C_6H_6$) and that its overall resonance has 1.5 bonds between all carbons

Alkyl halides (halo group)

Has a halogen

Alcohols (hydroxyl group)

Has O atom bonded to a sp3 hybridized C atom

Ethers (alkoxy group)

Has a O atom bonded to 2 C atoms

Amines (amino group)

C atom that is bonded to N atom is not double bonded to O atom

Thiols (sulfanyl group)

S atom is bonded to H atom

Sulfides (alkylthio group)

S atom is not bonded to H atom

Primary structure

A carbon atom bonded to one other carbon atom.

Secondary structure

A carbon atom bonded to two other carbon atoms.

Tertiary structure

A carbon atom bonded to three other carbon atoms.

Quaternary structure

A carbon atom bonded to four other carbon atoms.

Carbonyl group

A functional group consisting of a $C=O$ double bond.

Aldehyde

C atom in C=O is not bonded to 2 other C atoms

Ketone

C atom in C=O is bonded to 2 other C atoms

Carboxylic acid

Has C=O with an OH group

Ester

Has C=O without an OH group

Amide

C atom bonded to N atom is also double bonded to an O atom

Acid Chloride (or Acid Halogen)

Has a chloride (or halogen)