ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Chapter 2 Functional groups o The structural features that make it possible to classify compounds by reactivity are called functional groups o a functional group is a part of a larger molecule and is composed of an atom or a group of atoms that have a characteristic chemical behavior o The Chemistry of every organic molecules regardless of size and complexity, is determined by the functional groups it contains Department of Chemistry, Xiamen UniversityORGANIC CHEMISTRY Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University Chapter 2 Functional groups The structural features that make it possible to classify compounds by reactivity are called functional groups. A functional group is a part of a larger molecule and is composed of an atom or a group of atoms that have a characteristic chemical behavior. The Chemistry of every organic molecules, regardless of size and complexity, is determined by the functional groups it contains