Organic substance classes and functional groups – basic principles
How it works
Organic chemistry deals with carbon-based compounds. Important substance classes are alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, ketones, aldehydes, and amines. Many of these substance classes can be recognized by characteristic functional groups that strongly influence their chemical properties. For example, alcohols contain a hydroxy group (-OH), carboxylic acids a carboxy group (-COOH), esters an ester group (-COO-), and amines an amino group (-NH2, -NHR or -NR2). Aldehydes have a terminal aldehyde group (-CHO), while ketones carry a carbonyl group (>C=O) within the carbon chain. Alkenes are recognized by a C=C double bond, alkynes by a C≡C triple bond; alkanes contain only C-C single bonds. The type of these groups or bonds largely determines reactivity, solubility, odor, and many other properties. The naming of organic compounds also follows rules in which the carbon chain as well as the type and position of the functional group or multiple bond are taken into account.
Organic substance classes can be recognized by characteristic functional groups or typical types of bonds. These features determine the chemical properties and the assignment to a substance class.
An example
Which functional group is typical for alcohols?
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50 Exercises
To the learning unit →Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: Chemistry. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.