Question

Functional group properties Match the appropriate functional groups to the physical and chemical properties described. - Nonpolar, hydrophobic, found in hydrocarbon chains.

Answer 1

The functional group that is nonpolar, hydrophobic, and found in hydrocarbon chains is the alkyl group, such as the methyl group (CH₃).

Step-by-step explanation:

Functional Groups and Their Properties

The student's question relates to matching a functional group with the given properties: nonpolar, hydrophobic, and typically found in hydrocarbon chains.

The alkyl group (e.g., methyl group, CH₃) fits this description. Alkyl groups are comprised of carbon and hydrogen atoms, forming nonpolar covalent bonds that do not interact favorably with water, thus exhibiting hydrophobic characteristics.

These groups are found in the hydrocarbon chains of organic molecules and do not contain any heteroatoms such as oxygen or nitrogen, which could impart polarity to the molecule.

Hydrocarbons such as alkanes solely contain carbon and hydrogen and serve as the backbone to which functional groups such as alkyl groups are attached.

Due to their nonpolar nature, these hydrocarbon chains and their associated alkyl groups are soluble in lipids (lipophilic) but insoluble in water.

The presence and size of alkyl groups influence the overall solubility and reactivity of the molecule, playing a key role in determining its function within biological systems.

Answer 2

The alkyl group, such as a methyl group, is the functional group that is nonpolar, hydrophobic, and found in hydrocarbon chains, matching the properties described in the question.

Step-by-step explanation:

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical properties of those molecules.

For the specific properties described - nonpolar, hydrophobic, and found in hydrocarbon chains - the functional group that matches these characteristics is an alkyl group, such as a methyl group (-CH3).

Alkyl groups are composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms and lack any electronegative atoms that might induce a polarity, making them nonpolar.

Their nonpolarity makes them hydrophobic, meaning they do not mix well with water but are soluble in nonpolar solvents.

The methyl group is a common example of an alkyl functional group that imparts these properties to a molecule.

In longer hydrocarbon chains, the nonpolar character increases, further reinforcing their hydrophobicity.

Alkyl groups, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl, are typical examples of hydrophobic functional groups in organic chemistry.

The presence of these groups affects the solubility and reactivity of the whole molecule in biological and chemical systems.

Understanding the properties of different functional groups is essential for predicting the behavior of organic compounds, especially in biological contexts where these interactions can influence molecular structure and function.