4.4 - Functional Groups - Chemistry LibreTexts

4.
4: Functional Groups
Learning Outcomes
Describe the importance and purpose of functional groups in organic reactions.

Identify and name functional groups in compounds.
With over twenty million known organic compounds in existence, it would be very challenging to memorize
chemical reactions for each one. Fortunately, molecules with similar functional groups tend to undergo similar
reactions. A functional group is defined as an atom or group of atoms within a molecule that has similar chemical
properties whenever it appears in various compounds. Even if other parts of the molecule are quite different,
certain functional groups tend to react in certain ways.
We've already looked at alkanes, but they are generally unreactive. We primarily use alkanes as a source of
energy when they are combusted. While the majority of functional groups involve atoms other than carbon and
hydrogen, we will also look at some that include only carbon and hydrogen. Some of the most common functional
groups are presented in the following sections.
Organic molecules vary greatly in size and when focusing on functional groups, we want to direct our attention to
the atoms involved in the functional group. As a result, the abbreviation R is used in some examples. The letter R
is used in molecular structures to represent the “Rest of the molecule”. It consists of a group of carbon and
hydrogen atoms of any size. It is used as an abbreviation since a group of carbon and hydrogen atoms does not
affect the functionality of the compound. In some molecules, you will see R, R’, or R’’ which indicates that the R
groups in the molecule can be different from one another. For example, R might be –CH2CH3 while R’ is –
CH2CH2CH2CH3.
Alkenes and Alkynes

Alkenes are hydrocarbons that contain one or more double bonds between neighboring carbon atoms. Alkynes
contain one or more triple bonds between neighboring carbon atoms. The presence of a double or triple bond
results in reactivity not present in alkane and alkynes (see figure below) undergo characteristic reactions which
will be covered later.
Figure 4.4.1 : Alkenes (left) contain one or more double bonds while alkynes (right) contain one or more triple
bonds.
Aromatics
The additional functional group that contains only carbon and hydrogen is an aromatic ring which is a six-carbon
ring with alternative double bonds. The aromatic ring is also shown as a ring with a circle in the middle
representing the double bonds. Aromatic rings (see figure below) are found in many compounds including
steroids and medications.
Figure 4.4.2: Aromatic rings contain alternating double bonds.
Alcohols
The alcohol functional group involves an oxygen atom that is bonded to one hydrogen atom and one carbon
atom. The carbon atom will be part of a larger organic structure. One way to indicate a generic alcohol would be
with the formula R−OH . R represents any organic fragment in which a carbon atom is directly bonded to the
explicitly indicated functional group (in this case, OH). The R group is typically a chain of carbon atoms.
Figure 4.4.3: Primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols.
Alcohols can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary based on the characteristics of the carbon to which it
is attached. In a primary alcohol, the carbon bonded directly to the oxygen atom is also bonded to exactly one
carbon atom, with the other bonds generally going to hydrogen atoms. In a secondary alcohol, the carbon is
attached to two other carbon atoms, and in a tertiary alcohol, the carbon is bonded to three other carbon atoms.
The type of alcohol being used will determine the product of certain reactions. Note the naming of alcohols as
illustrated in the figure above. The location of the −OH group is indicated with the number of the carbon to which
it is attached.
We are already familiar with several common alcohols. For example, ethanol (CH CH OH) is the alcohol present
3 2
in alcoholic beverages. It is also widely used in the industrial manufacture of other chemicals. Methanol (CH OH)
3
is used as a gasoline additive or alternative. Additionally, methanol can be used to manufacture formaldehyde,
which is employed in the production of plastics, paints, and other useful substances. Isopropanol is commonly
known as rubbing alcohol. In addition to its industrial uses, isopropanol is used to clean various surfaces,
including computer monitors, whiteboards, and even skin (e.g., before getting blood drawn).
Ethers
The ether functional group consists of an oxygen atom that forms single bonds with two carbon atoms.
Figure 4.4.4: Ethers

Ethers are good solvents for other organic compounds because of their low reactivity. They readily dissolve
nonpolar molecules. Diethyl ether is perhaps the best known ether. It is widely used as a solvent and has been
used as an inhalable anesthetic.
Although ethers themselves are relatively unreactive, they can be converted to peroxides after prolonged
exposure to oxygen. Peroxides are very reactive and are often explosive at elevated temperatures. Many
commercially available ethers come with a small amount of a peroxide scavenger dissolved in them to help
prevent this type of safety hazard.
Thiol
The thiol functional group contains a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. It is very similar to an alcohol
functional group with the sulfur replacing the O.
Figure 4.4.5: Thiol

Thiols are also called mercaptans which is derived from the Latin phrase for "capturing mercury" because of the
strong bonds it forms with mercury-containing compounds. Some thiol compounds have a distinctive smell
similar to rotten eggs. They are often added to natural gas, which itself has no odor, as a way to detect leaks since
its odor can be detected by humans in very small amounts. A thiol group is also present in the amino acid cysteine
which will be discussed later.
Amines
An amine consists of a nitrogen atom bonded to some combination of carbons and hydrogens.
Figure 4.4.6: Amines

Like alcohols, amines can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary. However, the rules for assigning these
categories are slightly different. In an alcohol, the oxygen atom is always bonded to exactly one carbon atom, so
we look at the branching on the adjacent carbon, not the oxygen atom itself. In a neutral amine, the nitrogen can
be bonded to one, two, or three carbon atoms, and this is how we decide whether it is called a primary, secondary,
or tertiary amine.
Neutral amines are weak bases, because the lone pair on nitrogen can act as a proton acceptor. Many smaller
amines have very strong and offensive odors. For example, the aptly-named compounds cadaverine and
putrescine are foul-smelling amines, formed as a part of the decay process after death.
Amines serve a wide variety of uses. Diphenylamine acts as a stabilizer for certain types of explosives. Amines are
found as components in some lubricating materials, in developers, and are a part of waterproofing textiles. Some
amines, such as novocaine, are used as anesthetics. Many pharmaceutical compounds contain amines, including 8
of the 10 most prescribed medications in 2012.
Aldehydes
A very common structural component of organic structures is the carbonyl, which is simply a carbon atom and an
oxygen atom connected by a double bond. The reactivity of carbonyls is primarily dictated by the polarization of
the C=O bond, but the surrounding atoms also play a role in its specific reaction pathways. While carbonyl is a
component of many functional groups, it is not itself a functional group.
Figure 4.4.7: Aldehyde

An aldehyde is a carbonyl in which the carbon atom is bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. The other group
attached to the carbonyl may be an R-group or a hydrogen atom. Because the hydrogen atom is so small, the
partial positive charge on the carbonyl carbon is very easy for other molecules to approach, making aldehydes a
particularly reactive type of carbonyl. Aldehydes are versatile reactants for a wide variety of organic syntheses.
Many aldehydes also have distinctive flavors and aromas. For example, the flavor of cinnamon is primarily due to
the molecule cinnamaldehyde, and vanillin is the aldehyde most responsible for the smell and taste of vanilla
extract.
A special aldehyde is the molecule in which the carbonyl is bonded to two hydrogen atoms. This molecule, called
formaldehyde, has a wide variety of uses. By itself, it can be used as a tissue preservative or as a very harsh
disinfectant. It is also used as a precursor to various materials, including plastics, resins, and other polymers.
Figure 4.4.8: Examples of molecules with aldehyde functional groups.
Ketones
Figure 4.4.9: Ketone

A ketone involves a carbonyl in which the carbon atom makes single bonds with two R-groups. Ketones undergo
most of the same reactions as aldehydes, but they tend to be slightly less reactive. The simplest ketone is acetone,
in which the carbonyl carbon is bonded to two CH groups. This ketone is commonly used to remove fingernail
3
polish and serves as an industrial solvent. Methyl ethyl ketone is used as a paint stripper and a solvent. Ketones
are also used in the production of various polymers, either as a building block or as a solvent. The R-group in a
ketone can be the same or different as seen in the example.
Figure 4.4.10 : Two examples of ketones.
Carboxylic Acids
Carboxylic acids are another carbonyl-containing functional group, in which the carbon atom is bonded to an OH
group on one side and either a carbon or hydrogen atom on the other.
Figure 4.4.11 : Carboxylic acid

As the name implies, carboxylic acids are weak acids. An OH group that is directly connected to a carbonyl will
ionize to a small extent when dissolved in water. The reason for this is the relative stability of the resulting anion.
A carboxylate ion (see figure below), in which the negative charge is spread over two different oxygen atoms
through resonance structures, is more stable than an isolated oxygen-centered anion. The carboxylic acid and
carboxylate ion are interchangeable. Carboxylate ions are often present in amino acids.
Figure 4.4.12 : Carboxylate ion

Carboxylic acids are used in a variety of environments. Formic acid acts as a protective chemical for many
stinging insects and plants. Acetic acid gives vinegar its characteristic smell and flavor and is a fundamental
biological and industrial building block. Carboxylic acids with longer carbon chains (fatty acids) are used by
animals as a way of storing energy and are widely used in the manufacture of soaps. Some compounds contain
multiple carboxylic acids within a single molecule. For example, citric acid (three carboxyl groups) is especially
abundant in citrus fruits and it used as a flavoring and preservative in many foods and beverages.
Figure 4.4.13 : Carboxylic acids
Esters
An ester is similar to a carboxylic acid, in that it contains a carbonyl where the carbon is bonded to one additional
oxygen atom and one carbon or hydrogen atom. However, the second oxygen atom is bonded to another carbon
instead of to an acidic hydrogen atom. Structurally, carboxylic acids and esters are related to one another in the
same way as alcohols and ethers.
Figure 4.4.14 : Ester

Esters can be formed by heating carboxylic acids and alcohols in the presence of an acid catalyst. This process is
reversible, and the starting materials can be regenerated by reacting an ester with water in the presence of a weak
base.
Some esters have very pleasant odors, so they are used in the manufacture of many perfumes. Propyl acetate
contributes to the odor of pears, while isoamyl acetate gives bananas their smell. This ester also serves as an
alarm signal for honeybees. Esters are employed in the manufacture of fabrics (polyesters) and Plexiglass.
Anesthetics such as procaine and benzocaine also contain esters.
Amides
An amide is a carbonyl in which the carbon is attached to one nitrogen atom and one carbon or hydrogen atom.
Alternatively, we could define an amide as an amine in which one of the carbon atoms attached to the nitrogen is
part of a carbonyl.
Figure 4.4.15 : Amide

An amide can be formed by combining a carboxylic acid and an amine. Only primary and secondary amines can
be sued to form amides, since they have a hydrogen that can be replaced with the carbonyl carbon; tertiary
amines will not form amides. The amide shown in the figure above was formed from a carboxylic acid and a
primary amine.
Amides are used as coloring agents in crayons, pencils, and ink. They are employed in the paper, plastic, and
rubber industries. Polyacrylamide is a very widely used amide; it is involved in t he treatment of drinking water
and sewage, and in plastics manufacture. The amide Kevlar is widely employed for the production of body armor,
and nylon is another type of amide-based polymer.
Haloalkanes
The haloalkanes, also known as alkyl halides, are a group of chemical compounds comprised of an alkane with
one or more hydrogens replaced by a halogen atom (Group 17 atom). There is a fairly large distinction between
the structural and physical properties of haloalkanes and the structural and physical properties of alkanes. A
Figure 4.4.16 : Amide

Haloalkanes are found in fire extinguishers, refrigerants, propellants, solvents, and medications. They are also a
significant source of pollution and their use has been reduced or eliminated in some products.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used as refrigerants in air-conditioners but were found to be a major cause of
the depletion of the ozone layer. Research and development of alternatives began in the 1970s.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) have been used for many years since they cause less damage to the ozone
layer, but many countries agreed to eliminate HCFCs by 2020.
Contributors and Attributions
Allison Soult, Ph.D. (Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky)
This page titled 4.4: Functional Groups is shared under a CK-12 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by CK-12
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4.

Describe the importance and purpose of functional groups in organic reactions.

Alkenes and Alkynes

Figure 4.4.2: Aromatic rings contain alternating double bonds.

Figure 4.4.4: Ethers

Figure 4.4.5: Thiol

Figure 4.4.6: Amines

Figure 4.4.7: Aldehyde

Figure 4.4.9: Ketone

Figure 4.4.10 : Two examples of ketones.

Figure 4.4.11 : Carboxylic acid

Figure 4.4.12 : Carboxylate ion

Figure 4.4.14 : Ester

Figure 4.4.15 : Amide

Figure 4.4.16 : Amide

Contributors and Attributions

Allison Soult, Ph.D. (Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky)

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