What is a hydrocarbon?

hydrogen chemically bonded to carbon

2 features about hydrocarbons:

1. Simplest organic molecule 2. Underlying framework for more complex organic molecules

What are functional groups?

chemical groups that are directly involved in chemical reactions

2 features about functional groups:

1. Different shapes and charges cause different chemical reactions 2. Properties are retained wherever they attach and influence behavior

7 most important chemical groups:

1. Hydroxyl 2. Carbonyl 3. Carboxyl 4. Aminos 5. Sulfhydryl 6. Phosphates 7. Methyl

How is methyl different from the rest of the most important 7 chemical groups?

The other 6 groups are all hydrophilic, while methyl is not reactive.

What is an R group?

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