Pääfunktioryhmä

Pääfunktioryhmä refers to the principal functional group within an organic molecule. In organic chemistry nomenclature, when a molecule possesses multiple functional groups, one is designated as the principal functional group. This designation determines the suffix used in the compound's name and dictates the priority for naming other substituents. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) provides a set of rules for establishing this hierarchy. Generally, functional groups that are more oxidized or have a higher priority in the IUPAC ranking are considered principal functional groups. Examples of functional groups that are often considered principal include carboxylic acids, esters, amides, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and amines. The presence of a principal functional group dictates the basic class of the organic compound and influences its chemical reactivity and physical properties. For instance, a molecule with a carboxylic acid as its principal functional group will be named as a carboxylic acid, and its chemical behavior will be characteristic of this class of compounds. Understanding the concept of the principal functional group is crucial for systematic naming and interpreting the structure and properties of organic molecules.