functional group
noun
a group of atoms responsible for the characteristic behavior of the class of compounds in which the group occurs, as the hydroxyl group in alcohols.
Nearby words
Origin of functional group
First recorded in 1935–40
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British Dictionary definitions for functional group
functional group
noun
chem the group of atoms in a compound, such as the hydroxyl group in an alcohol, that determines the chemical behaviour of the compound
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medicine definitions for functional group
functional group
n.
An atom or group of atoms that replaces hydrogen in an organic compound and that defines the structure of a family of compounds and determines the properties of the family.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for functional group
functional group
An atom or group of atoms that replaces hydrogen in an organic compound. Functional groups define the structure of a family of compounds and determine its properties. The carboxyl and hydroxyl groups are functional groups that define the compounds they are part of as organic acids and alcohols, respectively.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.