Functional Groups

Learning Objectives

the grouping of hydrocarbon compounds into families (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, carboxylic acids and non-branched esters) based upon similarities in their physical and chemical properties including general formulas, their representations (structural formulas, condensed formulas, Lewis structures), naming according to IUPAC systematic nomenclature (limited to non-cyclic compounds up to C10, and structural isomers up to C7) and uses based upon properties

Molecules that only contain carbon and hydrogen. There are 3 main types...

Only contain single bonds.
They have the general formula C_nH_{2n+2 .}
We call alkanes 'saturated' hydrocarbons. This is because all the carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds.

Contain a double bond.
They have the general formula C_nH_2n.
We call alkenes 'unsaturated' hydrocarbons. This is because all the carbon-carbon bonds are not single bonds.

Contain a triple bond.
They have the general formula C_nH_2n_-_{2 .}
We call alkynes 'unsaturated' hydrocarbons. This is because all the carbon-carbon bonds are not single bonds.

Molecules that contain an '-OH' group connected to a C.
We call this '-OH' group the hydroxyl group.
This '-OH' group allows from hydrogen bonds to form between water molecules, making alcohols more easily dissolvable in water.