The chemical properties of an organic compound are usually dominated by the functional group. This makes functional groups a natural organizational principle for organic compounds. Ask students to experiment to build models of functional groups containing one or two oxygen atoms in all possible variations. Have groups of students each select a functional group from a list and research its structure, common compounds, properties, and uses.
Groups can report back to the class orally or summarize findings in an informational poster.
Discuss interrelationships through reactions of various functional groups. Students prepare a variety of esters, identify them by their fragrances, and write several esterification equations. As enrichment, have students prepare soap from lard. Encourage students to recognize this process as the reverse of preparing esters. As enrichment, a variety of addition and condensation reactions can be studied, including formation of amides, polyesters, polyamides, polyethenes, alcohols, and halocarbons.