(-SH) or (HS-)

 Thiols

Sulfhydryl

 - Two Sulfhydryl groups can interact to help stabilize protein structure.

(-OH) or (HO-)

Alcohols (end in -ol)

Hydroxyl

-Polar - electronegative oxygen atom draws electrons toward itself

-Attracts H2O molecules - dissolves organic compounds

      O

    //

    -O-P-(O-)

/

(O-)

Organic Phosphates

Phosphate

-Makes the molecule of which it is a part an anion (negative ion)

-Can transfer energy between organic molecules

O

//

-C-?

Keytone (when within Carbon skeleton)

Aldehyde (when at the end of Carbon skeleton)

Carbonyl

-Keytones and aldehydes may be structural isomers with differen properties.

  O

//

   -C-OH

Carboxylic Acid (organic acid)

Carboxyl

-Acidic properties - a source of (H+)

-(H+) tend to dissociate reversibly because the covalent bond between O and H

-In cells, found in the ionic form, which is called a carboxylate group.

    H

   /

-N

   \

     H

Amines

Amino

-Acts as a base - can pick up a proton from the surrounding solution

 H                           H

/                            /

  -N                       -(N+)-H

\                           \

   H                          H

Ionized Non-ionized

-Ionized, with a charge of 1+, under cellular conditions.