Functional groups are specific atoms or groups of atoms within organic compounds that determine their chemical reactivity and properties, playing a crucial role in classifying and identifying different organic compounds.
Serial Number | Names of Homologous Series | General Molecular Formula | Functional Group and Its Name |
1 | Alkanes | CnH2n+2 | – |
2 | Alkenes | CnH2n | Double bond (C=C) called “Alkenyl” |
3 | Alkynes | CnH2n-2 | Triple bond (C≡C) called “Alkynyl” |
4 | Alcohols | CnH2n+1OH | Hydroxyl group (─OH) called “Hydroxyl” |
5 | Aldehydes | CnH2nO | Carbonyl group (C=O) at the end of a carbon chain, called “Aldehyde” |
6 | Ketones | CnH2nO | Carbonyl group (C=O) within the carbon chain, called “Ketone” |
7 | Carboxylic acids | CnH2n+1COOH | Carboxyl group (─COOH) called “Carboxylic acid” |
8 | Esters | CnH2n+1COOCmH2m+1 | Ester group (─COOC─) called “Ester” |
9 | Amines | CnH2n+2NH2 | Amino group (─NH2) called “Amine” |
10 | Amides | CnH2nCONH2 | Amide group (─CONH2) called “Amide” |
It consists of a hydroxyl group (─OH) attached to a carbon chain, found in alcohols like ethanol (C₂H₅OH).
It involves an oxygen atom bonded to two carbon groups, present in ethers such as dimethyl ether (CH₃─O─CH₃).
It consists of a carbonyl group (C=O) and a hydroxyl group (─OH) on the same carbon, present in carboxylic acids like acetic acid (CH₃COOH).
It contains a carbonyl group (C=O) at the end of a carbon chain, as seen in aldehydes like formaldehyde (HCHO).
It features a carbonyl group (C=O) within the carbon chain, found in ketones like acetone (CH₃─CO─CH₃).
It involves a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to an oxygen atom, which is in turn bonded to a carbon chain, present in esters like ethyl acetate (CH₃─COO─C₂H₅).
Functional groups containing carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen are called “Amines.”
It has one carbon atom, three hydrogen atoms, and one amino group (NH2) attached to the carbon atom.
It has two carbon atoms, five hydrogen atoms, and one amino group (NH2) attached to one of the carbon atoms.
It has four carbon atoms, eleven hydrogen atoms, and one amino group (NH2) attached to one of the carbon atoms.
It has six carbon atoms, fifteen hydrogen atoms, and one amino group (NH2) attached to one of the carbon atoms.
Functional groups containing carbon, hydrogen, and halogens are specific arrangements of atoms in organic compounds that include halogen elements (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine) in addition to carbon and hydrogen, affecting the properties and reactivity of the molecules.
Double bonds and triple bonds are types of covalent bonds in which two or three pairs of electrons are shared between carbon atoms, respectively, leading to the formation of alkenes and alkynes.
– Ethene (C2H4) contains a double bond between two carbon atoms: H2C=CH2
– Ethyne (C2H2) contains a triple bond between two carbon atoms: HC≡CH