Question

What are functional groups? How do the differing charges of functional groups influence the behavior of the functional groups, the structure of molecules bearing the functional groups, and the interactions of the molecules with water?

Answer 1

• Functional groups are groups of atoms that has characteristic chemical properties and are responsible for chemical reactions within the host molecule in which they are present
• Based on the presence of charge,they are classified as hydrophilic? and hydrophobic
• Positively charged functional groups are hydrophobic eg:- methyl group which are non polar
• Negatively charged functional groups are hydrophilic.eg:-carboxyl group and thus it acts as an acid
• Carbonyl groups are uncharged that is they carry partial negative and partial positive charge.but they are polar and are hence hydrophilic
• Atoms of the functional groups are linked to each other and to the molecule to which it is attached by means of covalent bond and thus confers the molecule with a specific structure
• Functional groups reacts with the host molecule and confers different physical and chemical properties to the molecule
• Non polar molecules which are hydrophobic are repelled by water and are not soluble eg:- hydrocarbons methyl groups etc
• Hydrophilic molecules are readily soluble in water eg:- hydroxyl group