Octet / Collection
Functional Groups
Recognition and naming practice
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All Functional Groups
Recognition and naming practice
Alkane
Saturated hydrocarbons with only C-C single bonds. Least reactive functional group.
Alkene
Unsaturated hydrocarbons with C=C double bond. Nucleophilic, undergo addition reactions.
Alkyne
Unsaturated hydrocarbons with C≡C triple bond. Terminal alkynes are weakly acidic.
Alcohol
Hydroxyl group attached to sp³ carbon. Versatile, can be oxidized or act as nucleophile.
Aldehyde
Carbonyl at end of chain. Electrophilic carbon, easily oxidized to carboxylic acid.
Ketone
Carbonyl between two carbons. Electrophilic, undergoes nucleophilic addition.
Carboxylic Acid
Carbonyl + hydroxyl. Acidic (pKa ~5), forms carboxylate anion.
Ester
Carboxylic acid derivative. Pleasant odors, undergo hydrolysis and transesterification.
Ether
Oxygen between two carbons. Relatively unreactive, common solvents.
Epoxide
Strained 3-membered ring with oxygen. Highly reactive, opens with nucleophiles.
Primary Amine
Nitrogen with two H atoms. Basic and nucleophilic. Fishy smell.
Secondary Amine
Nitrogen with one H atom. Basic and nucleophilic.
Tertiary Amine
Nitrogen with no H atoms. Basic but not H-bond donor.
Amide
Carbonyl + nitrogen. Very stable, found in proteins (peptide bonds).
Nitrile
Triple bond to nitrogen. Can be hydrolyzed to carboxylic acids or reduced to amines.
Imine (Schiff Base)
C=N double bond. Formed from aldehyde/ketone + amine. Hydrolyzable.
Nitro Group
Nitrogen with two oxygens. Strong electron-withdrawing group. Makes α-H acidic.
Alkyl Halide
Halogen on sp³ carbon. Undergo substitution (SN1/SN2) and elimination (E1/E2).
Aryl Halide
Halogen on aromatic ring. Less reactive than alkyl halides. Undergo SNAr or metal-catalyzed coupling.
Acyl Halide (Acid Chloride)
Carbonyl with halide. Most reactive carboxylic acid derivative. Reacts violently with water.
Thiol
Sulfur analog of alcohol. More acidic than alcohols. Distinctive smell.
Sulfide (Thioether)
Sulfur analog of ether. Better nucleophile than ethers. Can be oxidized to sulfoxides/sulfones.
Disulfide
Two sulfurs bonded. Important in protein structure (cysteine bridges). Reducible to thiols.
Benzene Ring
Six-membered aromatic ring. Undergoes electrophilic aromatic substitution.
Phenol
OH on benzene ring. More acidic than alcohols (pKa ~10). Activates ring for EAS.