Name: functional groups in organic chemistry
Uploaded: 2020-09-24T15:06:53.000Z
Duration: 2 min 45 s
Channel: JoVE

Functional groups are covalently bonded sets of atoms that affect the properties of a molecule.
Molecules containing the same functional groups often exhibit similar properties and undergo similar reactions.
Naming functional groups allows for the quick identification of the atoms in a molecule, which is useful in organic chemistry and biochemistry.&#160;&#160;
Hydrocarbons are the basis of organic molecules and contain varying numbers of carbon and hydrogen atoms. These include alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. Carbon atoms in alkanes are linked together by single bonds, whereas alkenes and alkynes contain double or triple bonds, respectively.
Hydrocarbons can form closed rings. If the ring contains only single bonds, it is called a cycloalkane. If the carbons are linked together by alternating single and double bonds, it is called an aromatic ring or an aryl group.
One of the simplest non-carbon containing groups is the hydroxyl group which contains an oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom. It is an important constituent of several compounds, such as methanol, water, and carbohydrates.
Another category of functional groups is the carbonyl groups, which contain a carbon and an oxygen linked together by a double bond. Carbonyl containing groups include functional groups such as aldehydes, ketones, esters, and carboxyl groups.
Aldehydes have hydrogen and a variable or R group attached to a carbonyl, while ketones have two variable groups. R groups often represent hydrocarbons but can be other groups or atoms.&#160;
Aldehydes and ketones are key functional groups in carbohydrates
Esters consist of a carbonyl group flanked by a R group and an oxygen, while carboxylic acids, or carboxyl groups, are flanked by an R group and an alcohol. Lipids contain esters, and amino acids contain carboxylic acids.
Amino acids also have another common functional group called an amine or amino group. An amine has a nitrogen with a lone pair linked to a combination of hydrogens and R groups. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.&#160;
A phosphate group is a phosphorus bonded to four oxygens and is commonly found in DNA, the genetic material of all living organisms. It can also be attached to proteins to alter their function.

functional groups

Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of that molecule. For example, the presence of certain functional groups on a molecule will make them hydrophilic, whereas others will make them hydrophobic. These functional groups are an indispensable part of organic chemistry and important components of biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each functional group is a unique arrangement of atoms and is assigned a name for the combination of atoms that make up the group.
Hydrocarbons 
Strong, stable bonds between carbon atoms produce complex molecules containing chains, branches, and rings. The chemistry of these compounds is called organic chemistry. Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen. The alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons&#8212;that is, hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds. Alkenes contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Alkynes contain one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds. Aromatic hydrocarbons contain ring structures. They are also known as aryl groups.
Alcohols and Ethers 
Many organic compounds that are not hydrocarbons can be thought of as derivatives of hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon derivative can be formed by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms of a hydrocarbon with a functional group, which contains at least one atom of an element other than carbon or hydrogen. The properties of hydrocarbon derivatives are determined largely by the functional group. The &#8211;OH group, known as a hydroxyl group, is the functional group of an alcohol. The &#8211;R&#8211;O&#8211;R&#8211; group is the functional group of an ether.
Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids, and Esters 
Functional groups related to the carbonyl group include the &#8211;CHO group of an aldehyde, the &#8211;CO&#8211; group of a ketone, the &#8211;COOH group of a carboxylic acid, and the &#8211;COOR group of an ester. The carbonyl group, a carbon-oxygen double bond, is the key structure in these classes of organic molecules: Aldehydes contain at least one hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon atom, ketones contain two carbon groups attached to the carbonyl carbon atom, carboxylic acids contain a hydroxyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon atom, and esters contain an oxygen atom attached to another carbon group connected to the carbonyl carbon atom. All of these compounds contain oxidized carbon atoms relative to the carbon atom of an alcohol group.
Amines 
The addition of nitrogen into an organic framework leads to two families of molecules. Compounds containing a nitrogen atom bonded in a hydrocarbon framework are classified as amines.
This text is adapted from <a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/20-1-hydrocarbons">Openstax, Chemistry 2e, Section 20.1: Hydrocarbons</a>, <a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/20-2-alcohols-and-ethers">Openstax, Chemistry 2e, Section 20.2: Alcohols and Ethers, </a><a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/20-2-alcohols-and-ethers">Openstax, Chemistry 2e, Section 20.3: Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids, and Esters,</a> and <a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/20-4-amines-and-amides">Openstax, Chemistry 2e, Section 20.4: Amines and Amides.</a>

Functional Groups

Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of ...

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functional groups in organic chemistry

Functional groups in organic chemistry are groups of atoms that give molecules specific properties. When these groups attach to a carbon skeleton, they can change how the molecule behaves. Some functional groups make a molecule hydrophilic, or water-attracting. Others make it hydrophobic, or water-repelling.

Functional groups are a key part of organic chemistry and are also found in major biological molecules. They appear in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each functional group has a unique arrangement of atoms and a name based on that arrangement.

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made of only carbon and hydrogen. Strong carbon-carbon bonds can build long chains, branches, and rings. Saturated hydrocarbons are called alkanes because they contain only single bonds. Alkenes contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, while alkynes contain one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds. Aromatic hydrocarbons contain ring structures and are also known as aryl groups.

Many organic compounds are not hydrocarbons, but they can be formed from hydrocarbons. In a hydrocarbon derivative, one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by a functional group that contains at least one atom other than carbon or hydrogen. The functional group usually determines the properties of the derivative. The hydroxyl group, written as –OH, is the functional group of an alcohol. The –R–O–R– group is the functional group of an ether.

Other important functional groups are related to the carbonyl group. The carbonyl group is a carbon-oxygen double bond. Aldehydes contain the –CHO group, ketones contain the –CO– group, carboxylic acids contain the –COOH group, and esters contain the –COOR group. In aldehydes, at least one hydrogen is attached to the carbonyl carbon. In ketones, two carbon groups are attached to that carbon. Carboxylic acids have a hydroxyl group attached to the carbonyl carbon, and esters have an oxygen atom linked to another carbon group at that position.

These carbonyl-based compounds contain oxidized carbon atoms compared with the carbon atom in an alcohol group. Adding nitrogen to an organic framework forms another important family of molecules. Compounds with a nitrogen atom bonded within a hydrocarbon framework are called amines.

Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry

Functional groups in organic chemistry are groups of atoms that give molecules specific properties. When these groups attach to a carbon skeleton, they can change how the molecule behaves. Some functional groups make a molecule hydrophilic, or water-attracting. Others make it hydrophobic, or water-repelling. Functional groups are a key part of organic chemistry and are also found in major biological molecules. They appear in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each functional...

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key terms and concepts

Learn how functional groups change the properties of organic molecules, from hydrocarbons and alcohols to carbonyl compounds and amines.

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Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry

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