Question

What are the three important functional groups attached to a central carbon atom

Answer 1

Alkanes are hydrocarbons containing no multiple bonds. Alkane substituents are called alkyl groups, which refers to alkanes lacking a C-H bond such as methyl, ethyl, or propyl.

Common examples of alkanes are methane, ethane, propane, butane, and octane.

The C-H bond is highly covalent and alkanes are very non-polar. They do not mix with water.

Alkyl carbons are sp3 hybridized and have tetrahedral geometry about the carbon.

You can often think of alkyl groups as the “spectator” functional groups of organic chemistry, abbreviated as R-. With the exceptions of free-radical substitution and, of course, combustion, alkanes don’t undergo a huge number of different reactions. They tend to provide the backbone of most organic molecules.

Alkenes are hydrocarbons with one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.

Common examples are ethene, propene, and butene.

Alkene substituents are called alkenyl groups; vinyl is often used to refer to -CH=CH2 .

Alkenyl carbons are sp2 hybridized, with a trigonal planar geometry.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The three important functional groups attached to a central carbon in amino acids are an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a hydrogen atom, with an additional variable R group side chain. The central carbon is asymmetric, making the molecule chiral. The carbonyl group is an important functional group in organic chemistry.

Step-by-step explanation:

The three important functional groups attached to a central carbon atom in amino acids are an amino group (NH₂), a carboxyl group (-COOH), and a hydrogen atom. Additionally, there is a side chain (R group) attached, which varies among different amino acids. The central carbon atom is also known as an asymmetric carbon due to the four different groups attached to it, making amino acids chiral molecules.

Biologically Significant Functional Groups

Biological molecules often have functional groups that determine their chemical behavior. For example, the carbonyl group is significant in organic compounds and is featured in several functional groups such as ketones (which have two carbon groups attached to the carbonyl carbon) and aldehydes (which have at least one hydrogen attached to the carbonyl carbon). Understanding these groups is fundamental to recognizing how molecules will react in different chemical environments.