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Chemistry vocabulary · Organic Chemistry

Functional group

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

nounCore term

In chemistry, functional group means: A specific group of atoms within a molecule, such as –OH or –COOH, that gives the molecule its typical reactions. Compounds with the same group react in similar ways.

In Turkish: fonksiyonel grup

How it is used

Central to organic chemistry: you identify, protect, convert or introduce a functional group. Families such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, amines and esters are defined by them, and IR spectra help to identify them.

Example sentences

  1. The broad peak near 3300 cm⁻¹ tells us the molecule has an –OH functional group.

  2. Name the functional groups in aspirin.

Common collocations

  • identify a functional group
  • protect a functional group
  • carbonyl group
  • hydroxyl group
  • organic compoundA compound built mainly from carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen, often with oxygen, nitrogen or other elements. Fuels, plastics, drugs and most molecules of living things belong here.
  • esterAn organic compound formed when a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol, with water given off. Many have fruity smells and are used in flavors, perfumes and solvents.
  • alkeneA hydrocarbon with at least one carbon–carbon double bond. Simple ones have the general formula CₙH₂ₙ, and ethene (ethylene) is the smallest.
  • spectroscopyThe study of how matter absorbs or emits light and other radiation, used to identify substances and measure their amounts. UV-Vis, IR and NMR are common types.
  • isomerOne of two or more compounds that have the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms, and so have different properties. Butane and isobutane are an example.

More terms: Organic Chemistry

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