Final answer:
Hydrocarbon functional groups include alkanes (e.g., methane), alkenes (e.g., ethene), alkynes (e.g., ethyne), and aromatics (e.g., benzene), each with unique bond patterns and general formulas that determine their chemical properties and applications.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hydrocarbon functional groups include alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatics, each having distinctive structures and general formulas. For example, alkanes have the general molecular formula CnH2n+2 and are characterized by single C-C bonds. An example is methane (CH4). Alkenes have at least one C=C double bond with the general formula CnH2n, like ethene (C2H4).
Alkynes are noted for their C≡C triple bonds and have the general formula CnH2n-2, exemplified by ethyne (C2H2). Aromatics consist of benzenoid compounds, generally depicted with a hexagonal ring including alternating double bonds, like benzene (C6H6). These functional groups are vital for understanding the chemical properties and reactions of different hydrocarbons, which in turn shed light on numerous biological and industrial applications.