Functional groups (commonly attached to carbon)

Hydroxyl

-OH

• highly polar → makes compounds more soluble thru hydrogen bonding w/ water

Phosphate group

When several phosphate groups are linked together, breaking O-P bonds btwn them releases large amounts of energy

Sulfhydryl

-SH

• When present in proteins, can form disulfide bonds that contribute to protein structure

Amino

Acts as a base - tends to attract a protein to form:

H

H-N-R

H

Carbonyl

2 types (Aldehydes and Ketones)

Carboxyl

Acts as an acid - tends to lose a proton in solution