Functional Groups Overview

Functional Groups

  • Organic compounds organized into families based on functional groups.
  • Functional groups: combinations of atoms that impart specific characteristics.
  • Chemical reactions occur among functional groups.

Alcohol (Hydroxyl)

  • Contains an -OH group attached by a single bond to a carbon backbone.
  • General formula: R−OHR-OH
Naming Alcohols
  • Suffix: "-ol"
  • Use numbers to specify the location of the alcohol group (e.g., propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol).
Types of Alcohols
  • Primary Alcohol: -OH bonded to 1 carbon.
  • Secondary Alcohol: -OH bonded to 2 carbons.
  • Tertiary Alcohol: -OH bonded to 3 carbons.

Ether

  • Oxygen bonded to two carbons, acting as a bridge.
  • General formula: R−O−R′R-O-R'
Naming Ethers
  • Name the longest chain normally, add shorter chain as "length"-oxy (e.g., 2-methoxy propane).

Carbonyl Functional Groups

  • Oxygen atom double-bonded to a carbon chain defines this group.
    • Aldehydes: carbonyl at the end of a chain.
    • Ketones: carbonyl in the middle of a chain.
Naming Aldehydes
  • Suffix: "-al"; no number needed (e.g., butanal).
Naming Ketones
  • Suffix: "-one"; use numbers to indicate the carbonyl position (e.g., pentan-2-one).

Carboxylic Acid

  • Contains a -COOH (carboxyl) group at the end of a carbon chain.
Naming Carboxylic Acids
  • Suffix: "-oic acid"; no number needed (e.g., butanoic acid).

Ester

  • Contains a carbonyl bonded to an oxygen in the middle of a chain.
  • Formed via esterification: Carboxylic acid + alcohol → ester + water.
Naming Esters
  • Name in two parts: "-oate" for carboxylic acid part and alcohol name as a branch (e.g., methyl ethanoate).

Amine

  • Similar to ammonia (NH₃), where one or more Hs replaced with carbons.
  • Types:
    • Primary amine
    • Secondary amine
    • Tertiary amine
Naming Amines
  • Name longest carbon chain; add "amino" as a branch with a number for location (e.g., 2-amino propane).

Amide

  • Contains a double-bonded oxygen and a single-bonded nitrogen.
  • Can occur at the end or in the middle of a chain.
Naming Amides
  • Named in two parts: "-amide" for the carboxylic acid part, and amine as a branch (e.g., ethyl propanamide).