Organic Chemistry I - Functional Groups

Super fun flashcards to help memorize all the functional groups for OChem!

Hydrocarbons

molecules that contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms

alkanes (and cycloalkanes)

contain only single bonds between carbon atoms

-are not considered functional groups by most organic chemists because they are very limited in their reactivity

-instead, they are looked upon as the backbone onto which other functional groups are attached

alkenes

consists of a double bond between carbon atoms

alkynes

consists of a triple bond between carbon atoms

aromatic or aryl groups

the most common of these is a phenyl ring structure

-usually a benzene ring with an R group attached

alcohol

R-OH

ether

R-O-R

thiol

R-SH

alkyl halide (note C must be sp³)

R-X

(X = Cl, Br, or I)

primary (1°) amine

R-NH₂

secondary (2°) amine

R₂-NH

tertiary (3°) amine

R₃-N

aldehyde

double bonded oxygen attached to an R group and a hydrogen

ketone

double bonded oxygen attached to two separate R groups

acid chloride

double bonded oxygen attached to an R group and a Cl

anhydride

(from left to right)

R group attached to a double-bonded oxygen, connected to a single oxygen, connected to another double-bonded oxygen, attached to an R group

carboxylic acids

R group attached to a double-bonded oxygen attached to an OH

esters

R group attached to a double-bonded oxygen attached to another oxygen attached to an R group

primary (1°) amides

secondary (2°) amides

tertiary (3°) amides

nitriles

contain a triple bond between carbon and nitrogen atoms

primary (1°) carbon atom

attached to one other carbon atom

secondary (2°) carbon atom

attached to two other carbon atoms

tertiary (3°) carbon atom

attached to three other carbon atoms

quaternary (4°) carbon atom

attached to four other carbon atoms

primary (1°) alcohol

a carbon atom with an alcohol and one R group attached

secondary (2°) alcohol

a carbon atom with an alcohol and two R groups attached

tertiary (3°) alcohol

a carbon atom with an alcohol and three R groups attached

primary (1°) alkyl halides

a carbon atom attached to an X and one R group

(X = Cl, Br, or I)

secondary (2°) alkyl halides

a carbon atom attached to an X and two R groups

(X = Cl, Br, or I)

tertiary (3°) alkyl halides

a carbon atom attached to an X and three R groups

(X = Cl, Br, or I)