Functional Groups

Hydroxyl

R-OH^-

• found in alcohols, sugars, and other organic molecules

• polar

Carbonyl

R - C - O

• found on the end of a molecule or the middle of it

• polar

• if this is found at the end then it is an ALDEHYDE

• if it is in the middle of an amino acid then it is a KETONE

Phosphate

R - PO²-_4

• Found in DNA and RNA

• polar

O

O - P - O

O

• you can have 2 H’s attached some of the O’s

Sulfhydryl

R - S - H

• Disulfide bridges are created by these two interacting

• R-S-S-R

Amino acids

R - NH_2

• basic

• found in amines

• can be polar in neutral enviroments

Carboxyl

R- COOH

or

R-C-OO^-

• is an organic acid

• protonated at lower pH’s

• the protonated and the ionized one can exist at equilibrium.