Context

Organic Chemistry is an area of Chemistry that studies compounds containing carbon, being vital for multiple industries and daily human activities. Within Organic Chemistry, we find organic functions, which are groups of compounds with similar chemical properties, due to the presence of a group of atoms called a functional group.

The main types of organic functions are: alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, amines, amides, phenols, among others. Each of these functions displays unique properties, reactions, and characteristics, influenced by their structure and the functional group they possess.

Organic functions are a critical topic for understanding the world around us, from the functioning of living beings to the composition of materials and the production of medications. Moreover, they are present in most chemical reactions that occur in the chemical industry.

Therefore, mastering this topic will not only allow students to better understand the world around them but also open up a myriad of career opportunities in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, medicine, among others.

To delve deeper into the key concepts of organic functions, I recommend the following sources:

1. "Organic Chemistry - Structure and Function", by Katherine Vollhardt and Neil E. Schore. This book is an excellent academic resource that presents Organic Chemistry concepts in a detailed and accessible manner.
2. "Chemistry: The Central Science", by Theodore L. Brown, H. Eugene LeMay, Bruce E. Bursten, and Catherine J. Murphy. This book provides a comprehensive view of chemistry, including detailed chapters on organic functions.
3. Khan Academy - Organic Chemistry: The website offers a series of videos and exercises covering different topics in Organic Chemistry, including organic functions.
4. Portal Educação: Articles and materials available for free on organic functions, their concepts, characteristics, and applications.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "From Theory to Practice: Exploring Organic Functions"

Project Objective

This project aims to allow students to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired about organic functions in solving practical problems, simultaneously developing socio-emotional skills.

Detailed Project Description

Each group of students (3 to 5 members per group) will receive a different organic function to study in depth. This activity is divided into two main parts: theoretical research and practical application.

1. Theoretical Research: Students must conduct in-depth research on the assigned organic function, focusing on structure, properties, nomenclature, reactions, and applications.

2. Practical Application: After the theoretical research, groups must select five problems involving their organic function and solve them, explaining step by step their solutions. These problems should cover different aspects of the organic function (such as nomenclature, structure, reactions, etc).

Groups should keep regular documentation of their progress, with notes on what they have learned and their experiences working together.

Required Materials

• Books and reference materials in Organic Chemistry
• Paper and pen for notes
• Internet access for research

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Groups are formed, and each receives the organic function to study.
2. Students conduct theoretical research on their organic function, noting key points.
3. Each group selects five problems to be solved covering different aspects of their organic function.
4. Groups solve the problems and document the process.
5. Students write a detailed project report (instructions below) and make an oral presentation to the class.

Final Documentation

After completing the practical part, groups must produce a report containing:

1. Introduction: Brief contextualization of the theme, relevance of the studied organic function, and the project's objective.
2. Development: Detailed description of the theory behind the studied organic function, explanation of the problems solved, discussion of the results, and methodology used.
3. Conclusion: Reflection on the learning obtained during the project and the conclusions drawn.
4. Bibliography: List of all sources consulted during the research.

Additionally, each group must prepare a 15-20 minute presentation for the class, explaining their organic function and sharing their findings.