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Introduction to Functional Groups
Functional groups determine whether:
- The molecules are soluble in polar or non-polar solvents
- The molecules have high or low melting and boiling points
- Molecules readily react with other molecules
3 Main Components of Functional Groups
There are many different functional groups but they essentially consist of only 3 main components:
- Carbon-Carbon multiple bonds (-C=C- or -C≡C-)
- Single bonds between a Carbon atom and a more electronegative atom (eg. C-O, C-N, or C-Cl)
- Carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom (-C=O)
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A More Detailed Look at Functional Groups
To study organic chemistry in a systematic way we need to be able to look at a molecule and find common fragments (called functional groups) which we can the generalize to all organic molecules.
Wize Concept
Functional group identification is crucial for naming an organic molecule.
The functional groups you are responsible for are shown below along with their abbreviation and priority.
Note: "SN" in the table below Is the name you use when that functional group is not highest priority but is a substituent
Some other common functional groups are shown below. You will be expected to identify them but they do not have a priority (they have a much lower priority than the functional groups in the table above).
Example: Functional Groups of Vitamin C
The structural formula of vitamin C is shown below. What are the functional groups in vitamin C?
Example: Identifying Functional Groups
Identify all of the functional groups in the following molecule, you don't need to circle multiple instances of the same functional group.
Sol:
Practice: Identifying Functional Groups
Which of the following functional groups are present in the molecule shown below?
I. Alkene
II. Alkyne
III. Ketone
IV. Alcohol
V. Carboxylic Acid
VI. Aldehyde
Practice: Identifying Functional Groups
There are two types of oxygen containing functional groups in ellagic acid (shown below) they are:
Practice: Functional Group Identification
Match the correct letters Ex. P with the correct functional group (ex. alcohol). Try your best!
A.
amide
B.
alcohol
C.
carboxylic acid
D.
alkane
E.
ether
F.
aldehyde and alkyne
G.
amine
H.
ester
I.
alkene
J.
ketone
P
Q & T
R
S
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Functional Groups Cheatsheet
