3.3 Functional Groups

Each aliphatic group has a variety of molecules that can be derived from it. Using the example of the ethyl group CH₃CH₂-, we can form ethane CH₃CH₃, ethyl alcohol or ethanol CH₃CH₂OH, ethylamine CH₃CH₂NH₂, ethanethiol or ethyl mercaptan CH₃CH₂SH, ethylbenzene CH₃CH₂C₆H₅, and many others. These are distinguished by the kinds of functional groups that they have. Functional groups are so called because they can do stuff.

Another name for a part of a molecule is a moiety.

In the next several lessons, I will go into a little more detail on these.

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