Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A functional group is a group of atoms responsible for the chemical properties of a compound.
About Functional Groups
There are four important functional groups you should know:
- Alkanes - The functional group is the single bonds between Carbon atoms and between Carbon and Hydrogen atoms.
- Alkenes - The functional group is the double bonds between Carbon atoms.
- Alcohols - The functional group is the OH group attached to a Carbon atom.
- Carboxylic Acids - The functional group is the double bond between a Carbon atom and an Oxygen atom and the single bond to an OH group on that same Carbon atom.
Examples
| Propane | Propene | Propanol | Propanoic Acid | |
| Chemical Formula | C3H8 | C3H6 | C3H8O | C3H6O2 |
| Structural Formula | CH3CH2CH3 | CH2CHCH3 | CH3CH2CH2OH | CH3CH2COOH |
| Structural Diagram |  |
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| Ball and Stick Model |  |
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References
AQA
- Functional group, pages 241, 257, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Functional group; identification of, page 194, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Functional groups, page 158, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Functional groups, pages 233, 238, 242, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Functional groups, pages 79, 81, 82, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Functional groups; amines, page 190, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Functional groups; in alcohols, page 181, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Functional groups; in alkenes, page 178, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Functional groups; in carboxylic acids, page 183, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Functional groups; in esters, page 185, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA