Functional group
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A functional group is any one of a number of specific combinations of molecules within an atom. Used mainly in organic chemistry, functional groups are a helpful way to determine the structure and function of a molecule, as functional groups act very similar no matter what molecule they are a part of [1].
A generic functional group is represented by the letter R in a chemical formula. For instance, CR4 represents a carbon with four of the same functional group bonded to it.
Some functional groups are described in the following table: [1]
| Name | Description | Ending | Simple Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkane | Carbon-carbon single bond | -ane | Ethane (CH3CH3) |
| Alkene | Carbon-carbon double bond | -ene | Ethene (CH2CH2) |
| Alkyne | Carbon-carbon triple bond | -yne | Ethyne (CHCH) |
| Arene | Unsaturated six-carbon ring | none | Benzene (C6H6) |
| Halide | covalantly bonded F, Cl, Br or I | none | Chloroethane (ClCH2CH3 |
| Alcohol | Covalantly bonded -OH | -ol | Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) |
| Ether | Oxygen bonded to two other carbons | ether | Diethyl ether (CH3CH2OCH2CH3 |
| Amine | -NR2 | -amine | Ethylamine (CH3CH2NH2 |
| Carboxylic acid | Carbon double bonded to O and bonded to -OH | -oic acid | Ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) |
