Introduction to Organic Chemistry Functional Groups

Jan 24, 2025

Organic Chemistry: Introduction to Functional Groups

Overview

  • Functional groups define a molecule's identity, like a name for a person.
  • Essential for understanding organic chemistry and chemical reactivity.

Basic Functional Group: Hydrocarbons

  • Definition: Compounds made solely of hydrogen and carbon.
  • Subtypes:
    • Alkanes: Single carbon-carbon bonds.
    • Alkenes: At least one carbon-carbon double bond.
    • Alkynes: At least one carbon-carbon triple bond.
    • Arenes: Cyclic structures with aromaticity.

Functionalized Hydrocarbons

  • Hydrocarbons with additional functional groups.
  • Examples include halides, alcohols, esters, etc.

Key Functional Groups

Halides

  • Definition: A halogen (F, Cl, Br, I) attached to a carbon.

Alcohols

  • Structure: OH group on an sp3 hybridized carbon.
  • Example: Ethanol (causes intoxication).

Phenols

  • Structure: OH group attached to an arene ring.
  • Note: Different chemical reactivity from alcohols.

Ethers

  • Structure: Carbon-oxygen-carbon linkage.
  • Note: To be studied further for restrictions.

Thiols

  • Structure: Sulfur attached to a carbon.
  • Note: No specific hybridization required.

Sulfides and Disulfides

  • Sulfides: Similar to ethers but with sulfur.
  • Disulfides: Carbon-sulfur-sulfur-carbon linkage.

Esters

  • Structure: Carbon-oxygen double bond (carbonyl) with an adjacent oxygen-carbon linkage.

Amines

  • Structure: Nitrogen attached to carbon and hydrogen.
  • Types: Primary, secondary, tertiary (based on attached groups).

Amides

  • Structure: Carbonyl group with a nitrogen attached.
  • Note: Different reactivity from amines.

Carboxylic Acids

  • Structure: Carbonyl group with an OH (alcohol-like) group.

Anhydrides

  • Structure: Two carbonyl groups flanking an oxygen.

Nitro Groups

  • Structure: NO2 group attached to a carbon.
  • Exercise: Draw Lewis dot structure and formal charges.

Aldehydes and Ketones

  • Aldehydes: Carbonyl group with a hydrogen.
  • Ketones: Carbonyl group between two carbons.

Conclusion

  • Overview of critical functional groups for the semester.
  • Importance for understanding chemical reactivity and properties.

Feel free to reach out during office hours or discussion sections for further clarification. Enjoy your study of organic chemistry functional groups!

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