Which of the following sets correctly identifies four functional groups commonly found in organic molecules?

• A. Alcohol, ketone, amine, and carboxylic acid
• B. Ether, alkane, cycloalkane, and alkene
• C. Arene, alkyl halide, nitro, and alkane
• D. Alkane, alkene, alkyne, and ether

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what a functional group is: a specific group of atoms within molecules that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules.
2. Review the common functional groups in organic chemistry, such as alcohols (-OH), ketones (C=O within carbon chain), amines (-NH2 or derivatives), and carboxylic acids (-COOH).
3. Analyze each set of groups given in the options to determine if they are functional groups or simply classes of hydrocarbons or other categories:
4. - Alcohol, ketone, amine, and carboxylic acid are all functional groups because they contain specific reactive atoms or bonds.
5. - Ether, alkane, cycloalkane, and alkene include ethers (functional group) but also alkanes, cycloalkanes, and alkenes which are classes of hydrocarbons, not functional groups.