Functional group

In organic chemistry functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules, that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. The same functional group will undergo the same or similar chemical reaction(s) regardless of the size of the molecule it is a part of.

The following is a list of common functional groups. In the formulas, the symbols R and R' usually denotes an attached hydrogen, or a hydrocarbon side chain of any length, but may sometimes refer to any group of atoms. Below is an image of multiple functional groups found in organic chemistry.

(For convenience, the basic functional groups covered in General Biology are also listed here)

Acetyl chloride
Methanol
Acetaldehyde
Methane
Ethylene
Acetylene
Acetamide
Methylamine
Dimethylamine
Trimethylamine
Choline
Benzyl bromide
(1-bromotoluene)

Methylpropylphosphane
Diphenyl sulfoxide

Chemical class	Group	Formula	Graphical Formula	Prefix	Suffix
Acyl halide	Haloformyl	RCOX	haloformyl-	-oyl halide
Alcohol	Hydroxyl	ROH	hydroxy-	-ol
Aldehyde	Aldehyde	RCHO	oxo-	-al
Alkane	Alkyl	RH	alkyl-	-ane
Alkene	Alkenyl	R₂C=CR₂	alkenyl-	-ene
Alkyne	Alkynyl	RC≡CR'	alkynyl-	-yne
Amide	Carboxamide	RCONR₂	carboxamido-	-amide
Amines	Primary amine	RNH₂	amino-	-amine
	Secondary amine	R₂NH	amino-	-amine
	Tertiary amine	R₃N	amino-	-amine
	4° ammonium ion	R₄N⁺	ammonio-	-ammonium
Azo compound	Azo (Diimide)	RN₂R'	azo-	-diazene
Toluene derivative	Benzyl	RCH₂C₆H₅ RBn	benzyl-	1-(substituent)toluene
Carbonate	Carbonate ester	ROCOOR		alkyl carbonate
Carboxylate	Carboxylate	RCOO⁻	carboxy-	-oate
Carboxylic acid	Carboxyl	RCOOH	carboxy-	-oic acid
Cyanates	Cyanate	ROCN	cyanato-	alkyl cyanate
Cyanates	Thiocyanate	RSCN	thiocyanato-	alkyl thiocyanate
Ether	Ether	ROR'	alkoxy-	alkyl alkyl ether
Ester	Ester	RCOOR'		-oate
Haloalkane	Halo	RX	halo-	alkyl halide
Imine	Primary ketimine	RC(=NH)R'	imino-	-imine
	Secondary ketimine	RC(=NR'')R'	imino-	-imine
	Primary aldimine	RC(=NH)H	imino-	-imine
	Secondary aldimine	RC(=NR')H	imino-	-imine
Isocyanide	Isocyanide	RNC	isocyano-	alkyl isocyanide
Isocyanates	Isocyanate	RNCO	isocyanato-	alkyl isocyanate
Isocyanates	Isothiocyanate	RNCS	isothiocyanato-	alkyl isothiocyanate
Ketone	Ketone	RCOR'	keto-, oxo-	-one
Nitrile	Nitrile	RCN	cyano-	alkanenitrile alkyl cyanide
Nitro compound	Nitro	RNO₂	nitro-
Nitroso compound	Nitroso	RNO	nitroso-
Peroxide	Peroxy	ROOR	peroxy-	alkyl peroxide
Benzene derivative	Phenyl	RC₆H₅	phenyl-	-benzene
Phosphine	Phosphino	R₃P	phosphino-	-phosphane
Phosphodiester	Phosphate	HOPO(OR)₂	phosphoric acid di(substituent) ester	di(substituent) hydrogenphosphate
Phosphonic acid	Phosphono	RP(=O)(OH)₂	phosphono-	substituent phosphonic acid
Phosphate	Phosphate	ROP(=O)(OH)₂	phospho-
Pyridine derivative	Pyridyl	RC₅H₄N		4-pyridyl / pyridin-4-yl 3-pyridyl / pyridin-3-yl 2-pyridyl / pyridin-2-yl	-pyridine
Sulfone	Sulfonyl	RSO₂R'	sulfonyl-	di(substituent) sulfone
Sulfonic acid	Sulfo	RSO₃H	sulfo-	substituent sulfonic acid
Sulfoxide	Sulfinyl	RSOR'	sulfinyl-	di(substituent) sulfoxide
Thiol	Sulfhydryl	RSH	mercapto-, sulfanyl-	-thiol

Combining the names of functional groups with the names of the parent alkanes generates a powerful systematic nomenclature for naming organic compounds.

The non-hydrogen atoms of functional groups are always associated with each other and with the rest of the molecule by covalent bonds. When the group of atoms is associated with the rest of the molecule primarily by ionic forces, the group is referred to more properly as a polyatomic ion or complex ion. And all of these are called radicals, by a meaning of the term radical that predates the free radical.

The first carbon after the carbon that attaches to the functional group is called the alpha carbon.

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