Lecture Notes: Functional Groups by Mr. W (ScienceMusicVideos.com)

Overview

• Functional groups are groups of atoms that are important for understanding how molecules work.
• There are eight key functional groups to be familiar with.

Functional Groups

1. Hydroxyl Group

• Structure: Consists of an oxygen (O) bonded to a hydrogen (H).
• Representation: R-OH (R = rest of the molecule).
• Properties:
  • Polar, hydrophilic (water-soluble).
  • Partial negative charge on oxygen, partial positive on hydrogen.

2. Carbonyl Group

• Structure: A carbon (C) double-bonded to an oxygen (O).
• Properties:
  • Polar, hydrophilic.
  • Found in molecules like caffeine.

3. Carboxyl Group

• Structure: Carbonyl group bonded to a hydroxyl group.
• Properties:
  • Acts as a weak acid; hydrogen can dissociate in water.
  • Exists in ionized and non-ionized forms.

4. Amino Group

• Structure: Nitrogen (N) attached to two hydrogens (H).
• Properties:
  • Acts as a base; can pick up a proton from the solution (increasing pH).
  • Resembles ammonia (NH₃).

5. Sulfhydryl Group

• Structure: Sulfur (S) bonded to a hydrogen (H).
• Properties:
  • Important for protein structure; can form disulfide bridges.

6. Phosphate Group

• Structure: One phosphorus (P) atom surrounded by four oxygen (O) atoms (PO₄).
• Properties:
  • Negatively charged, acidic.
  • Found in DNA backbones, phospholipid heads, ATP.

7. Methyl Group

• Structure: Carbon (C) connected to three hydrogens (H).
• Properties:
  • Nonpolar; involved in methylation (turns DNA off).

8. Acetyl Group

• Structure: Methyl group bonded to a carbonyl.
• Properties:
  • Involved in acetylation (facilitates gene transcription).
  • Example: Acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Additional Resources

• Visit ScienceMusicVideos.com for tutorials on functional groups.
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