Functional Groups and Reactions

Functional groupsAny group of atoms in a molecule that causes the molecule's characteristic chemical reactions. The same functional group will undergo the same or similar chemical reactions regardless of the rest of the molecule's composition. are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the chemical properties of the molecule. Some common functional groups in organic chemistry include the hydroxyl group (-OH), the carboxyl group (-COOH), the carbonyl group (-CO-), and the amine group (-NH₂).

The chemical properties of a molecule are determined by the functional groups present in the molecule, and the reactivity of a molecule is often dictated by the presence of a particular functional group. For example, the presence of a hydroxyl group in a molecule makes it more reactive with acids, while the presence of a carboxyl group makes it more reactive with bases.