Functional group

In organic chemistry, a functional group is a piece of a molecule that helps determine how it reacts with other chemicals. Having specific functional groups is what defines a family of organic chemicals.^[1]

Functional groups are usually specific arrangements of specific atoms, but can also be grouped into families with similar structures and reactinos (like methyl −CH₃ and ethyl −CH₂CH₃ both being in the alkyl family).^[2]

Molecules can have more than one functional group and belong to multiple families. Some families, like amino acids, are defined by having multiple functional groups. A molecule with two functional groups is bifunctional, and a molecule with more is polyfunctional.^[3]

Examples

• Alkyl
• Alkene
• Alkyne
• Alcohol
• Aldehyde (Like in Formaldehyde)
• Carboxylic acid (Like in Acetic acid)
• Ester
• Ether
• Ketone
• Amine
• Amide