How can I remember functional groups in organic chemistry?
1 Answer
When I memorized the functional groups in organic chemistry, I made a table and put them into groups.
The ones I put in the table were as follows:
Alkene:
These compounds contain two double-bonded carbon atoms, with four R side chains branching off of them.
Alkane:
These compounds are hydrocarbons containing only hydrogen and carbon, and all bonds within the molecule are single bonds.
Alkyne:
Alkynes are unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules containing at least one carbon-carbon triple bond between carbon atoms.
Alcohol:
Alcohols are molecules that contain a carbon bonded to an OH group, and three R group side chains branching off it.
Alkyl Halide:
Alkyl halides are molecules much like alcohols, except instead of an OH group bonded to the carbon, there is a halogen in its place. Halogens are in group seven in the periodic table, and can be any one of the elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or astatine.
Amine:
Amines consist of a nitrogen atom with a lone pair of electrons, bonded to a hydrogen and two R group side chains.
Nitrile:
Nitriles are composed of a carbon atom triple bonded to a nitrogen atom with a lone pair of electrons. Inorganic compounds containing this group are not called nitriles; instead, these compounds are called cyanides, though nitrile compounds are not nearly as toxic as cyanides.
Aldehydes, carboxylic acid, amides, ketones and esters all contain the same base; an R group side chain bonded to a carbon, double bonded to an oxygen. What makes each compound unique is the group that is bonded onto the carbon atom.
In aldehydes, this is a carbon, in carboxylic acid it is an OH group, amides contain a nitrogen with two more groups bonded onto it. Ketones contain another R group side chain, ethers contain an oxygen bonded to two R group side chains, and esters contain an oxygen bonded to one R group side chain.
