Functional Groups: Organic Chemistry

Vocabulary flashcards for organic chemistry functional groups and alkyl substituent names.

functional group

Groups on a molecule that have high chemical reactivity.

alkanes

Hydrocarbon molecule with no functional group.

alkenes

Hydrocarbon that has double bonds acting as functional group.

alkynes

Hydrocarbon that has triple bonds that act as functional groups.

arenes

Six-membered hydrocarbon rings with 3 double-bonds (typically have strong aromas or smells).

haloalkanes

Molecule that contains a carbon-halogen bond that acts as their functional group.

alcohols

Molecule that contain a hydroxy group ($\text{-OH}$) as its functional group.

ethers

Molecule whose functional group is 1 oxygen bonded to 2 carbons.

carbonyl groups

Molecule whose functional group is a carbon double-bonded to an oxygen (3 types include: aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid).

aldehyde

Type of carbonyl group where the oxygen is double bonded to a carbon and that carbon is bonded to a hydrogen.

ketone

Type of carbonyl group where the oxygen is just double-bonded to the carbon.

carboxylic acid

Type of carbonyl group where the oxygen is double bonded to a carbon which is bonded to a hydroxide.

amide

Alkyl group containing nitrogen instead of carbon (typically only making 3 total bonds).

alkyl

An alkane (hydrocarbon with no functional groups) with one hydrogen removed (typically represented by R).

isopropyl

A 3-carbon branched alkyl group attached at the central carbon.

isobutyl

A 4-carbon branched alkyl group attached via a primary carbon attached to an isopropyl-like structure.

tert-butyl

A 4-carbon branched alkyl group attached via a central tertiary carbon.