Basic functional groups

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The functional groups listed below are the basic functional groups covered by most General Biology courses.


Chemical class Group Formula Graphical Formula Prefix Suffix Example
Alcohol Hydroxyl ROH Hydroxyl hydroxy- -ol methanol
Methanol
Carbonyl Aldehyde RCHO Aldehyde oxo- -al acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyde
Ketone RCOR' Ketone keto-, oxo- -one
Carboxyl Carboxylic acid RCOOH Carboxylic acid carboxy- -oic acid
Carboxylate RCOO Carboxylate

Carboxylate

carboxy- -oate
Amines Primary amine RNH2 Primary amine amino- -amine methylamine
Methylamine
Phosphate Phosphate ROP(=O)(OH)2 Phosphate group phospho-
Thiol Sulfhydryl RSH Sulfhydryl mercapto-, sulfanyl- -thiol