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)

Carboxyl Group

The carboxyl group is formed by attaching a oxygen to a carbon by a double bond, then attaching a hydrogen to that same carbon atom. Finally, the carboxyl group is added to a molecule. Because carbon has four bonding sites, and three of them are taken up by the hydrogen and oxygen, the bond from the carbon to the molecule is a single bond. A carboxyl group is denoted X-C-H

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