Functional groups, concept

In this chapter we first briefly review the most important types of covalent bonds encountered in organic substances and the ways in which these bonds are represented in structural formulas. Next we consider the sizes and shapes of organic molecules and how structural formulas written in two dimensions can be translated into three-dimensional models that show the relative positions of the atoms in space. We also discuss models that reflect the relative sizes of the atoms and the way in which the atoms may interfere with each other when in close quarters (steric hindrance). Then we go on to further important aspects of structure — the functional group concept and position isomerism. 

A good example of the use of the functional-group concept is for acid-base properties. Alcohols, ROH, are structurally related to water, HOH, in that both possess a hydroxyl function. We may then expect the chemistry of alcohols to be similar to that of water. In fact, both are weak acids because the OH group has a reactive proton that it can donate to a sufficiently strongly basic substance, written as B here ... 

The chapters on organic chemistry (Chapters 1-6) were organized around the functional group concept. Each chapter dealt with a particular functional group or related groups. The nomenclature, properties, and uses of the compounds were discussed. The focus is different in this and the next four chapters (lipids, proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids). Each of these chapters is devoted to a particular class of biomolecules—substances closely associated with life. Reactions and nomenclature receive much less emphasis more... 

Thiols have been of foremost importance in the development of the functional group concept in biochemistry. Because of its ease of... 

Our first three chapters established some fundamental principles concerning the structure of organic molecules and introduced the connection between structure and reactivity with a review of acid-base reactions In this chapter we explore structure and reactivity m more detail by developing two concepts functional groups and reaction mechanisms A functional group is the atom or group m a molecule most respon sible for the reaction the compound undergoes under a prescribed set of conditions How the structure of the reactant is transformed to that of the product is what we mean by the reaction mechanism... 

The concept of the principal function raises the question of how priority is deterrnined when two or more different functional groups are present. No arbitrary rule can be entirely satisfactory, but an order has been codified in lUPAC recommendations (52—54), and an essentially similar order is used by Chemical Abstracts Service. In general, a higher state of oxidation takes precedence over a lower one, as shown in Table 1. 

Internal and External Phases. When dyeing hydrated fibers, for example, hydrophUic fibers in aqueous dyebaths, two distinct solvent phases exist, the external and the internal. The external solvent phase consists of the mobile molecules that are in the external dyebath so far away from the fiber that they are not influenced by it. The internal phase comprises the water that is within the fiber infrastmcture in a bound or static state and is an integral part of the internal stmcture in terms of defining the physical chemistry and thermodynamics of the system. Thus dye molecules have different chemical potentials when in the internal solvent phase than when in the external phase. Further, the effects of hydrogen ions (H" ) or hydroxyl ions (OH ) have a different impact. In the external phase acids or bases are completely dissociated and give an external or dyebath pH. In the internal phase these ions can interact with the fiber polymer chain and cause ionization of functional groups. This results in the pH of the internal phase being different from the external phase and the theoretical concept of internal pH (6). 

MO calculations can provide the minimum-energy structure, total energy, and overall electron density of a given molecule. However, this information is in the form of the sum of the individual MOs and cannot be easily dissected into contributions by specific atoms or groups. How can the properties described by the MOs be related to our concept of molecules as a colleetion of atoms or functional groups held together by chemical bonds ... 

The subunits which can be defined can include atoms or collections of atoms corresponding to functional groups. The subunits can be represented as regions of space defined by electon density. These representations correspond well with the qualitative concepts that arise from valence bond stmctures. The mathematical evaluation can assign shape and charge density to atoms. Table 1.17 gives the C and H charge densities in some... 

The traditional view of molecular bonds is that they are due to an increased probability of finding electrons between two nuclei, as compared to a sum of the contributions of the pure atomic orbitals. The canonical MOs are delocalized over the whole molecule and do not readily reflect this. There is, furthermore, little similarity between MOs for systems which by chemical measures should be similar, such as a series of alkanes. The canonical MOs therefore do not reflect the concept of functional groups. 

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