Functional groups
Functional
groups are sets of atoms whose presence in a molecule confers to
it chemical properties that are characteristic of the group. The
atoms that compose the functional group have a deformation
pattern that can be easily recognized, with slight variations caused by
the molecular environment. This is illustrated in the following
pictures, where the accumulated deformation of atoms in the -COOH group
of formic and benzoic
acids and in the -OH group of methanol and phenol have been drawn for contour values of
±0.05 au.
-COOH group
-COOH group
