In the Classroom
Functional Group Wordsearch Terry L. Helser Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, SUNY College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820-4015;
[email protected] This puzzle contains 24 names and terms that describe the functional groups in organic chemistry. Discover them by filling the blanks in the description below the matrix. Then, find and highlight these terms in the letter matrix. (Hints: there are no words within words, and they may appear vertically, horizontally or diagonally in either direction.) “FUNCTIONAL” is already done for you. Afterward, use the 17 letters remaining, from left to right and top to bottom, to complete the sentence describing these groups. The answers to the Functional Group Wordsearch are on the following page. Your success will be rewarded.
FUNCTIONAL G _ _ _ _ s in O _ _ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ modify A _ _ _ _ _, A _ _ _ _ _, and A _ _ _ _ _ molecules. Adding H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ groups like a M _ _ _ _ _, E _ _ _ _, or an A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ group can produce branched molecules. An oxygen atom between two of these groups is an E _ _ _ _ . The C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ group in a sugar is either an A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ or K _ _ _ _ _. When the C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ group of an acid reacts with the H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of an alcohol, they form an E _ _ _ _. Similarly an A _ _ _ reacts with an A _ _ _ _ group to form an A _ _ _ _ bond like those in proteins. The sulfur equivalent of an A _ _ _ _ _ _ is a T _ _ _ _ . (How many other words of three or more letters can you find?)
Use the remaining letters to fill in the following sentence: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
www.JCE.DivCHED.org
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Vol. 81 No. 4 April 2004
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Journal of Chemical Education
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In the Classroom Answers to the Functional Group Wordsearch
FUNCTIONAL GROUPs in ORGANIC CHEMISTRY modify ALKANE, ALKENE, and ALKYNE molecules. Adding HYDROCARBON groups like a METHYL, ETHYL or an AROMATIC PHENYL group can produce branched molecules. An oxygen atom between two of these groups is an ETHER. The CARBONYL group in a sugar is either an ALDEHYDE or KETONE. When the CARBOXYL group of an acid reacts with the HYDROXYL of an alcohol, they form an ESTER. Similarly an ACID reacts with an AMINO group to form an AMIDE bond like those in proteins. The sulfur equivalent of an ALCOHOL is a THIOL. REACTIONS USE THESE.
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Journal of Chemical Education
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Vol. 81 No. 4 April 2004
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www.JCE.DivCHED.org
