Functional Groups

Question 1

Hydroxyl functional group

Answer 1

forms alcohols

polar due to O > hydrogen conds with water > increases solubility

Question 2

Carbonyl functional group

Answer 2

form ketones (in middle of skeleton) or aldehydes (at end of skeleton)

polar due to O

Question 3

Carboxyl functional group

Answer 3

forms carboxylic acids / organic acids

acts as and acid, can donate H+ giving carboxylate ion, found in cells as an ion

a component of amino acids

Question 4

Amino functional group

Answer 4

forms amines

acts as a base, can pick up an H+, found in cells as an ion

a component of amino acids

Question 5

Sulfhydryl functional group

Answer 5

form thiols

two sulfhydryl groups can cross-link to stabilize protein structure

Question 6

Phosophate functional group

Answer 6

form organic phosphates

has negative charge, renders its molecule an anion

molecules with phosphate groups can react with water to release energy, important in ATP

Question 7

Methyl group

Answer 7

form methylated compounds

note: not a functional group, not reactive, but is a recognizable tag on biological molecules (ex: DNA)