6 - organic Flashcards
hydrocarbon
a compound that contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms
saturated
refers to a compound containing only single bonds e.g. alkane
unsaturated
refers to a compound containing one or more multiple bonds e.g. alkene
multiple bond
two or more covalent bonds between two atoms
displayed formula
shows every atom and every bond
structural formula
shows (unambiguously) how the atoms are joined together
skeletal formula
shows all the bonds between carbon atoms
molecular formula
shows the actual number of each atom in the molecule
empirical formula
shows the numbers of each atom in the simplest whole-number ratio
functional group
an atom or group of atoms in a molecule that is responsible for its chemical reactions
homologous series
a family of compounds with the same functional group, which differ in formula by CH2 from the next number
prefix
a set of letters written at the beginning of a name
suffix
a set of letters written at the end of a name
locant
a number used to indicate which carbon atom in the chain an atom or group is attached to
structural isomers
compounds with the same molecular formula but with different structural formulae
stereoisomers
compounds with the same structural formula (and the same molecular formula), but with the atoms or groups arranged differently in three dimensions
geometric isomers
compounds containing C=C bond with atoms or groups attached at different positions
restricted rotation
restricted rotation around a C=C bond fixes the position of the atom or groups attached to the C=C atoms
fractional distillation
the process used to separate a liquid mixture into fractions by boiling and condensing
cracking
the breakdown of molecules into shorter ones by heating with a catalyst
reforming
the conversion of straight-chain hydrocarbons into branched-chain and cyclic hydrocarbons
complete combustion
means that all of the atoms in the fuel are fully oxidised
incomplete combustion
means that some of the atoms in the fuel are not fully oxidised
biofuels
fuels obtained from living matter that has died recently
non-renewable
energy sources that are not being replenished, except over geological timescales
biodiesel
a fuel made from vegetable oils obtained from plants
bioalcohols
fuels made from plant matter, often using enzymes or bacteria
renewable
uses sources that can be continuously replaced
substitution reaction
one in which an atom or group is replaced by another atom or group
mechanism
the sequence of steps in an overall reaction. each step shows what happens to the electrons involved in bond breaking or bond formation
homolytic fission
the breaking of a covalent bond where each of the bonding electrons leaves with one species, forming a radical
radical
a species that contains an unpaired electron
initiation step
involves the formation of radicals, usually as a result of bond breaking caused by ultraviolet radiation
propagation steps
the two steps that, when repeated many times, convert the starting materials into the products of a reaction
termination step
involves the formation of a molecule from two radicals
sigma bonds
covalent bonds formed when electron orbitals overlap axially (end-on)
pi bonds
covalent bonds formed when electron orbitals overlap sideways
addition reaction
a reaction in which two molecules combine to form one molecule
hydrogenation
involves the addition of hydrogen
halogenation
involves the addition of a halogen
hydration
involves the addition of water (or steam)
diol
a compound containing two OH (alcohol) groups
curly arrows
represent the movement of electron pairs
electrophile
a species that is attracted to a region of high electron density
electrophilic addition
a reaction in which two molecules form one molecule and the attacking molecule is an electrophile
heterolytic fission
the breaking of a covalent bond so that both bond electrons are taken by one atom
carbocation
a positive ion in which the charge is shown on a carbon atom
electron-releasing group
pushes electrons towards the atom it is joined to
monomers
small molecules that combine together to form a polymer
repeat unit
the set of atoms that are joined together in large numbers to produce the polymer structure
recycling
involves converting polymer waste into other materials
incinerator
converts polymer waste into energy
biodegradable polymer
one that can be broken down by microbe
use as a feedstock (?)
involves converting polymer waste into chemicals that can be used to make new polymers
