Functional groups are identified by their characteristic arrangements of atoms and are often named based on the atoms they contain. For example, the hydroxyl group (-OH) is named based on the presence of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen ...

Heteroatoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or halogens, replace hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon chain within functional groups. These heteroatoms introduce different chemical properties and reactivities into the molecule, contributing to the diversity of organic compounds.

Some common functional groups include hydroxyl (-OH), carbonyl (C=O), carboxyl (-COOH), amino (-NH2), and sulfhydryl (-SH) groups, among others.

Compounds containing carbon are exceptionally stable due to the strong bonds carbon forms with most other elements, making them resistant to decomposition.

Carbon can form compounds with oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, chlorine, and many other elements.