Functional Groups

Organic molecules are formed from chains of carbons often with branches of smaller carbon chains or small repeated groupings of atoms like oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur. These functional groups, as the name implies, are responsible for specific chemical properties. As a result, it is convenient to apply a consistent nomenclature to functional groups as well as the whole organic molecule. The table below identifies some of the more common functional groups.

Functional Group	Functional Group Name	Example Molecule
	Hydroxyl
	Ketone
	Carboxyl
	Amine
	Aldehyde