Functional Groups and nomenclature
Major concepts
 Stable bonding leads to a limited number of bonding patterns
 Each functional group has its own reactivity
 Electronegativity differences in bonded atoms cause induction of bonds, which leads to partial
charges
 Molecules can be categorized by structure (functional groups) or reactivity (Lewis acids or Lewis
bases)
Vocabulary
 Functional group
 Heteroatom
 electronegativity
 induction
 Lewis acid/Lewis base
 Partial charge
Students should be able to:
 Recognize and name functional groups given a structure
 Draw appropriate structures given functional groups
 Describe the atoms in a molecule as electron rich or electron poor
 Describe carbon atoms of functional groups as Lewis acids or Lewis bases
Daily Problems
1. Label all the functional groups you find in these molecules. Choices include: aldehyde, amide, amine,
alcohol, ether, alkene, carboxylic acid, benzene, phenol, ketone. In the compound that is very similar to
morphine, label a primary carbon atom, a secondary carbon atom, a tertiary carbon atom, and a
quaternary carbon atom.
2. Draw a bond-line representation that fit the following parameters:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A five carbon ester
A cyclic ether that contains 4 carbon atoms
An alkene with eight carbons that also contains a hydroxyl group
An unsaturated aldehyde
A seven carbon alkane that contains one tertiary carbon
3. Draw bond-line formulas for these condensed formulas. Notice the conventions used in these
functional groups.
a. CH3CH2CH2CHO (“CHO” is the aldehyde functional group.)
b. CH3CH2CH2COOH (“COOH” is the carboxylic acid functional group.)
c. CH3CH2CH2CO2H (“CO2H” is also the carboxylic acid functional group.)
d. CH3CH2CH2OH (an alcohol)
e. CH3CH2CH(OH)CH3 (an alcohol)
f. CH3CH2CH2OCH3 (an ether—how is this different than part e?)
4. Many functional groups contain a structure called a “carbonyl”, which is the carbon/oxygen double
bond, C=O. Draw examples of 4 carbon molecules containing the following functional groups, then
clearly state what is distinct about each functional group.
a. aldehyde
b. carboxylic acid
c. ketone
d. ester
e. amide
5. Indicate whether you would consider each of these atoms to be Lewis acidic or Lewis basic. Explain
your thinking.
a. The oxygen atom of an alcohol
b. The carbon atoms of an alkene
c. The carbon atom of a ketone.
d. The nitrogen atom of an amine
e. The carbon attached to chlorine of an alkyl halide
6. Application to Biology: Here are the structures of some biological molecules. Use the names of the
molecules or the hints given to match the name with the structure.
A. Histamine
B. Alanine (an amino acid)
C. Acetylcholine (the only structure with atypical bonding)
D. Cholesterol
6. Draw dipole arrows designating any polar bonds in these molecules. Indicate any carbon atoms that
are Lewis acidic. Indicate any hydrogen atoms that are partially positive.
Cumulative problems
7. Redraw these compounds in bond-line formula and indicate any partial charges on carbon atoms due
to induction.
8. Application to Medicine: Antihistamines are drugs commonly used to treat allergy symptoms. Newer
antihistamines are blockbuster drugs because they do not cause drowsiness (due to the fact that they
don’t cross the blood-brain barrier.) The structure of fexofenadine (Allegra) is shown below. How many
carbons are in this molecule? How many lone pairs does it have? Name all of its functional groups.
OH
O
N
OH
OH
9. In this class, we will discuss functional group transformations. We will eventually learn about how
these reactions happen, and what reagents are required. For now, just name the functional groups in
the starting materials and the products.
10. Application to Environmental Chemistry: Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biodegradable plastic
made from chemically connecting many individual molecules (monomers) of hydroxybuteric acid into a
long chain. What functional group(s) are in the monomer? In the polymer? Based on this information,
what general class of polymers does PHB belong to? (Hint: popular clothing material of the 1970’s.)
What environmentally friendly small molecule is the side-product of this reaction? (Look at the atoms
lost during the reaction.)
O
HO
OH
monomer
O
O
O
O
unit 1
O
O
unit 2
O
unit 3
Extension problems
11. Nomenclature is the systematic way we name compounds. The end of the name indicates the
major functional group in the molecule. Using this information, match the structure to the most likely
name.
A. pentanamide
B. 4-chloropent-1-yne
C. 4-methoxypentanal
D.4,4-dimethylpentan-2-ol
E. cyclohexanone