Functional Groups

Handout

Functional Groups, in the field of organic chemistry, are the substituent atoms or groups of atoms that are attached to specific molecules. These moieties (the part of the molecule which can be found in many other molecules as well) are responsible for the chemical reactions that the molecule they are attached to participate in. In other words, a functional group is a group of atoms or bonds inside a substance that is responsible for the substance’s unique chemical reactions in organic chemistry. Regardless of the chemical in which it is found, the same functional group will behave similarly and experience comparable reactions.

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[Biochemistry. Elements. Carbon. Functional Groups. Hydroxyl. Carbonyl. Carboxyl. Amino. Sulfhydryl. Phosphate. Methyl.]