ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Functional group

Okay kiddo, a functional group is like a special group of friends. Just like how you and your friends have things in common and do things together, a functional group is a group of atoms in a molecule that all have something in common and work together in a special way.

Each functional group has its own unique set of characteristics and behaviors that make it different from other functional groups. For example, the alcohol functional group is made up of an oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom, and this group is very good at interacting with water and other substances.

Different functional groups can also have different effects on the properties of a molecule. For instance, if a molecule has an amine functional group, it might be more basic (meaning it can accept a proton) than a molecule that has a ketone functional group.

Overall, the functional group is an important concept in chemistry because it helps scientists understand how molecules behave and interact with one another!
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