Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
OXYGENATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Class
General Formula
Example
Alcohols
Ethyl alcohol
CH
3
CH
2
OH
ROH
Aldehydes
Acetaldehyde
CH
3
CHO
RCO
H
Ketones
Acetone
CH
3
COCH
3
RCO
R
Acids
Acetic acid
CH
3
COOH
RCO
OH
Esters
Ethyl acetate
CH
3
COOCH
2
CH
3
RCO
OR
Ethers
Diethyl ether
CH
3
CH
2
OCH
2
CH
3
ROR
Anhydrides
Acetic anhydride
RCO
O
CO
O
O
R
O
CH
3
C
C
CH
3
Oxygen is a constituent of many organic compounds. The most common
classes of these oxygen-containing compounds and examples of each are
shown above. The letter R
is the shorthand symbol for an organic group
such as methyl, ethyl, butyl, etc. The rest of the molecule is the functional
group that characterizes the class of compound. For example,
−
−
OH
(hydroxyl) is the alcohol functional group.
