“Functional

Groups”
Functional Groups
◼ A functional group is an atom or group
of atoms that have a characteristic
chemical behavior.
◼ The chemistry of every organic
molecule, regardless of size and
complexity, is determined by the
functional groups it contains.
 Functional Groups

• Functional groups are important for three reasons:

1. Allow us to divide compounds into classes.
2. Each group undergoes characteristic chemical
reactions.
3. Provide the basis for naming compounds.
◼ Alkanes
H H H H
H C C C C H
H H H H
R-R’ where R is an alkyl group
and R’ is an alkyl group
 Alkyl Groups
• Alkyl group – remove one H from an
alkane (a part of a structure)
• General abbreviation “R”
• Name: replace -ane ending of alkane
with -yl ending
– CH3 is “methyl” (from methane)
– CH2CH3 is “ethyl” from ethane
 Functional Groups
◼ Alkyl halide
H H H H
H C C C C Br
H H H H

R-X where X is any “halogen”

 Functional Groups
◼ Alcohols
H H H H
H C C C C OH
H H H H

R-OH where R is any “alkyl group”

 Alcohols
• Contain an -OH (hydroxyl) group bonded to a
tetrahedral carbon atom.
H H
:

-C-O-H H-C-C-O-H
:

H H
Functional Ethan ol
group (an alcohol)

• Ethanol may also be written as a condensed

structural formula.
CH3 -CH2 -OH or CH3 CH2 OH
 Functional Groups
◼ Ethers
H H H
H C C O C H
H H H

R-O-R’ where R is any “alkyl group”

Functional Groups
◼ Aldehydes

H O
H C C H
H
Functional Groups
◼ Ketone
H O H
H C C C H
H H
Propanone (acetone)
 Aldehydes and Ketones

• Contain a carbonyl (C=O) group.

: O: O :O: O

C H CH3 -C- H C CH3 -C- CH3

Functional Acetaldehyde Functional Acetone

group (an aldehyde) group (a ketone)
Functional Groups
◼ Carboxylic acids
H O
H C C OH
H
Ethanoic acid (acetic acid)
Section 20.4
Additional Organic Compounds
C. Carboxylic Acids and Esters
• Carboxylic acids – contains the carboxyl group
– COOH

• General formula RCOOH

Functional Groups
◼ Ester
H O
H C C O CH3
H
Methyl ethanoate
(methyl acetate)
 Esters
• Ester: A derivative of a carboxylic acid in
which the carboxyl hydrogen is replaced by a
carbon group.
O O
C O CH3 - C-O- CH 2 -CH3
Fu nctional Ethyl acetate
grou p (an ester)
Functional Groups
◼ Amine
H
H C NH2
H
Methylamine
Functional Groups
◼ Amide
O
H3C C NH2
Ethanamide (acetamide)
 Amide
Amide: A derivative of a carboxylic acid in which the -
OH of the -COOH group is replaced by an amine.

O O
C N CH3 -C-N-H
H
Fu nctional Acetamid e
group (a 1° amid e)
Functional Groups
◼ Acid anhydride
O O
H3 C C O C CH3

Ethanoic anhydride
Functional Groups
◼ Acid halide
O
H3 C C Cl
Ethanoyl chloride
Functional Groups
◼ Arene

benzene
Functional Groups
◼ Halide

H3 C Cl
Chloromethane
Functional Groups
◼ Nitrile

H3C C N
Ethanenitrile
Functional Groups
◼ Sulfide

H3C S CH3
Functional Groups
◼ Thiol

H3C S H
Methanethiol
 Functional Groups
O
• Alcohols R – OH except R-C-OH

• Ethers R – O – R’

• Aldehydes R – CH=O
 Functional Groups
O
• Ketones R-C-R’

O
• Carboxylic Acids R-C-OH

O
• Esters R-C-OR’
 Functional Groups
• Amines R-NH2 R-NH-R’

O
• Amides R-C-NH2

• Halides R-Cl Br I or F
 Functional Groups

• Alkanes - Contain all single bonds

- Methane CH4
- Ethane CH3-CH3
- Propane CH3-CH2-CH3
- Butane CH3-CH2-CH2-CH3
- Pentane, Hexane, Heptane, Octane, etc.

• Alkenes - Contain 1 or more double bonds

– Ethene CH2=CH2
– Propene CH3-CH=CH2 3
– Butene Two structural isomers
(1-butene & 2-butene)
 Functional Groups

• Cyclic Alkanes and Alkenes

Cyclopropane, Cyclobutane, Cyclopentene

• Aromatics Contain Benzene, C6H6

Uses sp2 HAO, Flat, Carcinogen

Hydrocarbons are compounds made up of only the elements
carbon and hydrogen. They may be aliphatic or aromatic.
 List of Organic Functional Groups

8–37

John A. Schreifels
Chemistry 212
Types of Alkyl groups
◼ a carbon at the end of a chain (primary alkyl group)
◼ a carbon in the middle of a chain (secondary alkyl
group)
◼ a carbon with three carbons attached to it (tertiary alkyl
group)
 Alkanes

• Carbon atoms in alkanes and other organic compounds

are classified by the number of other carbons directly
bonded to them.
 Alkanes

• Hydrogen atoms are classified as primary (1°),

secondary (2°), or tertiary (3°) depending on the type of
carbon atom to which they are bonded.
Functional Groups
O OCH3
O
NH2
N
H

HO O
Functional Groups
O
C
H3 C O O
C H
O