Final answer:
The molecule CH2=CHCH2COOCH3 contains an alkene functional group and an ester functional group, which are characterized by a carbon-carbon double bond and a carbon-oxygen double bond, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Identifying Functional Groups in Organic Compounds
The student has asked to identify the functional groups in the organic compound with the structure CH2=CHCH2COOCH3. This molecule contains two key functional groups:
Alkene: The CH2=CH- part of the molecule represents an alkene functional group, characterized by a carbon-carbon double bond.
Ester: The -COOCH3 part represents an ester functional group, which contains a carbonyl group (CO) adjacent to an ether group (OCH3).
Alkenes are characterized by their carbon-carbon double bonds, which contribute to the reactivity of the molecule. Esters, related to the carbonyl group, are characterized by a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O) connected to another oxygen atom that is bonded to a carbon atom (OC). The carbonyl group is a defining feature of several classes of organic molecules, including esters.