3- Organic Chemistry Flashcards
Why is a homologous series?
A series of molecules that have a general formula
Alkanes and alkenes are examples
How do you get the homologous series of alcohols?
If one hydrogen atom from each alliance molecule is replaced with a
-O-H group
What are the first three members of the homologous series of alcohol and what is their functional group?
Methanol (one carbon)
Ethanol (two carbons)
Propanol (three carbons) CH3CH2OH
Functional group: -O-H
What are the first three members of the carboxylic acids and what is their functional group?
Methanoic (one carbon)
Ethanoic (two carbon)
Propanoic (three carbon)
Functional group: -COOH
What is an esters functional group?
-COO-
What makes alcohol a useful solvent?
Organic substances dissolve in it and many alcohols have smaller molecules
What happens when alcohol burns in air?
Carbon dioxide and water
What happens when sodium reacts with alcohol?
Hydrogen gas is produced - the reaction is less vigorous than when sodium reacts with water
How can alcohol be oxidised?
Chemical oxidising agents (potassium dichromate) which produces carboxylic acids
Microbes in the air can to ethonol to make it sour
What happens when carboxylic acids react with
1) water
2) carbonates?
1) Solutions with a pH less than 7 is produced - does not ionise completely (a weak acid)
2) they fizz (produce carbon dioxide) and a salt and water are produced
Why are carboxylic acids different from other acids?
They react with alcohols in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce esters
What are esters?
Volatile compounds with a distinct smell (perfumes)
Way are strong acids?
Acids that ionise completely in aqueous solutions
What are alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters used for?
Food, drink, solvents and fuels
What are organic molecules?
They form the basis of living things and contain carbon atoms which bond covalently to each other to form organic molecules backbone
