13.1.3—Compounds in the table on pages 29 and 30

A functional group is the structural feature that controls a family’s typical reactions and many of its physical properties. The carbon skeleton still affects boiling point and steric access.

Identify the functional group first, then choose a reaction type. For example, an alkene C=C undergoes electrophilic addition, an alcohol can be oxidised, and a carboxylic acid can form an ester.

Ethanol and ethanoic acid both contain oxygen but behave differently because –OH and –COOH are different functional groups. Their names and reactions should not be inferred from the element list alone.

A molecule can contain more than one functional group. Do not assume one heteroatom automatically defines the whole reaction.