Functional Groups and Nomenclature

## Functional Groups: The Chemical Personalities Functional groups are specific clusters of atoms that give organic molecules their unique properties and reactivity. Think of them as the molecule's 'personality'. ### Common Functional Groups - **Alcohols**: Contain an -OH group (like ethanol). - **Carboxylic Acids**: Have a -COOH group (like acetic acid). - **Amines**: Feature an -NH\(_2\) group. - **Alkenes and Alkynes**: Have double or triple bonds. ### Naming Organic Compounds The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) sets the rules for naming organic compounds. Names are based on: - The longest carbon chain - The type and position of functional groups - Numbering the carbons for the lowest possible numbers ## Why It Matters Knowing the name tells you the structure—and the structure tells you how it might react!