Functional Group:
Organic compounds except alkanes contain some structural features which make it possible to classify compounds by reactivity. These are called functional groups. They are responsible for the characteristic properties of the compounds. Therefore, functional group is an atom or group of atoms that determines the characteristic properties of an organic compound.
Some important functional groups are given below:
Each functional group undergoes characteristic reaction. By recognising the functional group in a molecule, it is possible to predict the reaction which that molecule will undergo. The concept of functional group is important to organic chemistry for three reasons:
- Functional groups serve as basis for nomenclature of organic compounds.
- Functional groups serve to classify organic compounds into classes. All compounds with the same functional group belongs to same class.
- A functional group is a site of chemical reactivity in a molecule.