functional group

American  

noun

1. 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.

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functional group British  

noun

1. chem the group of atoms in a compound, such as the hydroxyl group in an alcohol, that determines the chemical behaviour of the compound

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functional group Scientific  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of functional group

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

They then used a series of reactions to attach a benzoyl functional group to dissolved amine- and alcohol-containing metabolites.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2024

They also discovered that the island region was located at the same position in some RLKs, nearly all of which belong to a functional group that regulates growth and development.

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2024

Aldehydes are commonly prepared by the oxidation of alcohols whose –OH functional group is located on the carbon atom at the end of the chain of carbon atoms in the alcohol:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Alkenes are much more reactive than alkanes because the moiety is a reactive functional group.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Third, eleven cases very difficult to class, but probably belonging in the functional group.

From McClure's Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 4, August 1908 by Various