Memorize These Functional Groups

Functional group Structure* Example
Hydrocarbons
Alkane
(NOT a functional group)		 molecule CH3(CH2)6CH3
octane
Alkene molecule
H2CCH2
or H2C=CH2
ethene
(or ethylene)
Alkyne molecule
CH3CCH
propyne
(or methylacetylene)
Substituted Hydrocarbons
Haloalkane
or
Alkyl Halide
molecule
X = F, Cl,
Br, I
CH3CHBrCH3
2-bromopropane
(or isopropyl bromide)
Alcohol molecule
CH3CH2OH
ethanol
Amine molecule
(CH3CH2)2NH
diethyl amine
Ether molecule
CH3OC(CH3)3
methyl tert-butyl ether
(MTBE or
2-methoxy-2-methylpropane)
Carbonyl Compounds
Aldehyde molecule
CH3CHO
ethanal
(or acetaldehyde)
Ketone molecule
CH3COCH3
propanone
(or acetone)
Carboxylic acid molecule CH3CO2H
ethanoic acid
(acetic acid)
Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids
Ester molecule C6H5CO2CH3
methylbenzoate
Amide molecule CH3CONH2
ethanamide
(acetamide)
Acid chloride molecule
CH3CH2COCl
propanoyl chloride
Acid Anhydride molecule
CH3CH2CO2COCH2CH3
propanoic anhydride
Nitrile molecule
CH3CH2CN
propane nitrile
(or cyanoethane)

N.B., the dashes shown for these general structures represent "H" or an "alkyl" (hydrocarbon group). When drawing specific structures, one should be very careful; a dash always represents a methyl group in those circumstances. We will soon learn that "R" represents a general alkyl group.

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