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Chapter 2 Functional Groups As we have seen in the previous chapter, the hydrocarbon skeleton is responsible for the shape and flexibility of organic molecules. In the case of alkane molecules, the molecular structure is based on tetrahedral units and the molecular dynamics is the consequence of relatively free rotations about the carbon-carbon single bonds. These rotations give rise to different conformations. However, with the exception of small-ring molecules, the alkanes, as compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen, are relatively weakly reactive substances. Most organic molecules which exhibit chemical reactivity have an incorporated active structural unit called the functional group. In the structural formula the unspecified group, the substituent, bound to the hydrocarbon skeleton is labeled as R. To be chemically active, the functional group must possess high energy electrons which can be either the electrons in the multiple bonds or the non-bonded electrons on atoms other than carbon or hydrogen. Such atoms (for instance O, N, S, P, Cl, Br, I etc.) when present in the organic molecules are called heteroatoms. The presence of the functional group is also the basis for systematization of organic compounds into specific classes. The most common functional groups together with their nomenclature are listed in following tables. The additional functional groups as well as the details of the nomenclature of specific classes of compounds will be discussed later in this book. H. VanĨik, Basic Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-07605-8_2, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014 17 18 2 Functional Groups Amongst the functional groups which have double and triple bonds we shall mention those in the following table. All the compounds belong to different types of hydrocarbons: The main functional groups and the corresponding organic compounds containing oxygen are: alcohols, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and esters as listed in the following table: 2 Functional Groups 19 The most important organic compounds with nitrogen are the following: Some organic compounds possess groups with both elements, oxygen and nitrogen: 20 2 Functional Groups Let us also list the classes of compounds with the functional groups containing sulfur and halogen: http://www.springer.com/978-3-319-07604-1