functional groups

• Hydroxyl Definition


  A group containing an oxygen atom connected by a covalent bond to a hydrogen atom: -OH
• Carbonyl Definition


  A group containing a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom: C=O
• Carboxyl Definition


  A group containing a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom and single bonded to a hydroxyl group: -C(=O)OH or -COOH
• Amino Definition


  A group containing a nitrogen atom single bonded to a hydrogen atom and single bonded to another hydrogen atom: -N(-H)H or -NH2
• Sulfhydryl Definition


  A group containing a sulfur atom connected by a covalent bond to a hydrogen atom: -SH
• Phosphate Definition

  A group containing an oxygen atom single bonded to a phosphorous atom which is double bonded to an oxygen atom and single bonded to two other oxygen atoms: PO4
• Methyl Definition


  A group containing a carbon atom single bonded to three separate hydrogen atoms: CH3
• Hydroxyl

  Alcohols. Specific names usually end in -ol.
• Carbonyl Name


  Ketones if the carbonyl group is within a carbon skeleton. Aldehydes if the carbonyl group is at the end of a carbon skeleton.
• Carboxyl Name


  Carboxylic acids or organic acids.
• Hydroxyl Properties


  Is polar as result of electrons being near electronegative oxygen atom. Can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, helping dissolve organic compounds.
• Carbonyl Properties


  Ketones and aldehydes may be structural isomers with different properties. Ketones and aldehydes are found in sugars: ketoses and aldoses.
• Carboxyl Properties


  Acts as an acid b/c covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen is polar. Found in cells in the ionized form with a charge of -1 and called a carboxylate ion.
• Phosphate Properties


  Contributes a negative charge to the molecule of which it is a part (-2 when at the end of a molecule, -1 when located internally in a chain of phosphates). Molecules containing phosphate groups may react with water, releasing energy.
• Methyl Properties


  Addition of a methyl group to DNA, or to molecules bound to DNA, affects the expression of genes.
• Amino properties


  Acts as a base