Question

(a) What are hydrocarbons? Give examples.
(b) Give the structural difference between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons with two examples of each.
(c) What is a functional group? Give examples of four different functional groups.

Answer 1

(a) Compounds of carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons. Example methane, ethane etc.

(b) Saturated hydrocarbons contain carbon-carbon single bonds, unsaturated hydrocarbon contains at least one carbon-carbon double or triple bond.

(c) Functional group - An atom/group of atoms joined in a specific manner which is responsible for the characteristic chemical properties of the organic compounds. Examples are hydroxyl group ($\text{-OH}$), aldehyde group ($\text{-CHO}$), Carboxylic group ($\text{-COOH}$), ketone group $\text{C=O}$ etc.