Archive:Introduction to Functional Groups

Introduction

Functional groups are groups of atoms within a molecule that affect its function. Some basic ones are listed below.

Hydroxyl Group

The hydroxyl group is formed by attaching a oxygen and a hydrogen atom to a molecule. Both the bond from the molecule to the oxygen and the bond from the oxygen to the hydrogen are single bonds; thus hydroxyl groups are usually denoted X-O-H. (where O is oxygen, H is hydrogen, and X is the molecule the hydroxyl group is attached to)