3D Functional Groups – Identify Alcohols, Aldehydes, Ketones, Acids, Esters, Amines and Amides

What it shows

A functional group is the atom or group of atoms that gives an organic compound its typical reactions. This simulation builds 3D ball-and-stick models with sp³ and sp² geometry for two members of each of ten classes, from alkanes to amides. Highlighting shows which atoms form the group, and the panel gives the IUPAC suffix or prefix and the general formula of the homologous series. Comparing pairs such as aldehyde and ketone, acid and ester, or amine and amide shows how a small change in bonding creates a different class of compound.

How to use

Choose Explore, click a class such as Alcohol or Ester, and pick one of the two formulas next to Examples. Drag to rotate and scroll to zoom; the Highlight group button shows or hides the group. Switch to Identify quiz: a random molecule appears without its name, so click the class you think it belongs to, read the clue and press Next question. Reset view restores the starting angle.

Parameters you can change

• Compound class Alkane, Alkene, Haloalkane, Alcohol, Aldehyde, Ketone, Carboxylic acid, Ester, Amine, Amide
• Mode Explore, Identify quiz
• Highlight the functional group
• Auto-rotate

Questions to explore

1. Aldehydes and ketones both contain C=O; how can you tell them apart on the model?
2. Why do methyl ethanoate and propanoic acid have the same molecular formula, C₃H₆O₂?
3. Ethylamine and ethanamide both contain –NH₂; what structural difference puts them in different classes?