13. Introduction To Organic Chemistry Flashcards
Define the term hydrocarbon
A compound made up of C and H atoms ONLY
What is a free radical
A species with one or more than one unpaired electrons
What is structural isomerism?
Compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulae.
What are the different types of structural isomerism?
Chain isomerism
Positional isomerism
Functional group isomerism
What is chain isomerism?
When compounds have the same molecular formula, but their longest hydrocarbon chain is not the same and this is causes by branching
What is positional isomerism?
Differences in the position of a functional group in each isomer
What is functional group isomerism?
When different functional groups result in the same molecular formula.
What is stereoisomerism?
Compounds that have the same molecular formula and the same structural formula but the atoms are arranged differently in space.
There are two types of stereoisomerism which are geometric (cis/trans) isomerism and optical isomerism.
What is geometric isomerism
It is seen in unsaturated compounds that have the same molecular formula and order of atoms but different shapes
What is cis/trans isomerism
Cis isomers have functional groups on the same side of the double bond
Trans isomers have functional groups on opposite sides of the double bond
What are optical isomers?
They arise when a carbon atom in a molecule is bonded to four different atoms or groups of atoms
What is a homologous series?
A group of organic compounds that have the same functional group, the same general formula and the same chemical properties
What is a saturated hydrocarbons?
Hydrocarbons which contain single bonds only resulting in the maximum number of hydrogen atoms in the molecule
What is an unsaturated hydrocarbon?
Hydrocarbons which contain carbon-carbon double or triple bonds
What is homolytic fission?
Breaking a covalent bond in such a way that each atom takes an electron from the bond to form two radicals
