Functional Groups

C=C

Alkene (molecules that contain at least one carbon–carbon double bond)((EX: Ethene, CH₂=CH₂)

C≡C

Alkyne (molecules that contain at least one carbon–carbon triple bond)(EX: Ethyne, HC≡CH)

CₙH₂ₙ₋₆

Arene (Aromatic ring)(cyclic structure with alternating double bonds) (EX: Benzene, C₆H₆)

a piece of an alkane with one hydrogen removed

Alkyl

R–X (R = an alkyl group, X = F, Cl, Br, I)

Alkyl halide (EX: Chloromethane, CH₃Cl)

CₙH₂ₙ (EX: Cyclohexane, C₆H₁₂)

Cycloalkane (an alkane whose carbon chain forms a ring)

R-OH (R = an alkyl group, OH = hydroxy)

Alcohol (EX: Ethanol, C₂H₆O or CH₃CH₂OH)

Ar–OH (Ar = aromatic ring)

Phenol (EX: Phenol, C₆H₅OH) (a molecule where an –OH group is directly attached to an aromatic ring)

R–O–R (R = a carbon-containing group, O-R = alkoxy)

Ether (a molecule where an oxygen is connected to two carbon groups)(EX: Dimethyl ether, CH₃—O—CH₃)

A three-membered ring of C–C with an O bridging the two carbons

Epoxide (a 3-membered ring containing one oxygen atom and two carbon atoms)(EX: ethylene oxide, C₂H₄O)

R–SH (R = a carbon group)

Thiol (a functional group that contains –SH attached to a carbon)(EX: Ethanethiol, CH₃CH₂SH)

R¹–S–R² (R = a carbon group)

Sulfide (Thioether)(EX: Dimethyl sulfide, CH₃SCH₃)

R–S–S–R

Disulfide (EX: dimethyl disulfide, C₂H₆S₂ or H₃C–S–S–CH₃)

R–C(=O)–R'

Ketone (EX: Acetone, CH₃COCH₃)

RC(=O)H

Aldehyde (EX: Acetaldehyde, CH₃CHO)

RC(=O)OH

Carboxylic acid (EX: Acetic acid, CH₃COOH; benzoic acid, C₆H₅COOH)

RC(=O)OR'

Ester (EX: Ethyl acetate, CH₃COOCH₂CH₃)

R–C≡N

Nitrile (EX: Acetonitrile, CH₃CN)

Primary RNH₂, secondary R₂NH, tertiary R₃N

Amine (EX: Methylamine, CH₃NH₂)

RC(=O)NR′R″

Amide (EX: N,N-dimethylacetamide, CH₃CON(CH₃)₂)