✅6 - Organic Chemistry I Flashcards
What is a functional group?
The group of atoms which gives an organic compound its characteristic properties and reactions
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound of hydrogen and carbon only
What is a homologous series?
Family of compounds which all contain the same functional group and each member of there series contains one CH2 unit more than the previous member
What is a general formula?
Represents all the members of a homologous series
Why can carbon form so many compounds?
- the atoms have an exceptional ability to form chain, branches chains and rings of various sizes
- Carbon is relatively inert and unreactive when in C-C or C-H bonds
What is empirical formula?
The simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a compound
What is molecular formula?
The actual number of atoms in each molecule
What is structural formula?
Shows the arrangement of atoms carbon by carbon with the attached hydrogens and functional groups
What is skeletal formula?
Shows the bonds of the carbon skeleton only, with any functional groups
What is displayed formula?
Shows how all the atoms are arranged, and the bonds between them, drawn out
What is addition?
Joining two or more molecules together to form a larger molecule
What is polymerisation?
Joining together lots of simple molecules to form a large one
What is elimination?
When a small group of atoms breaks away from a larger molecule
What is substitution?
When one species is replaced by another
What is hydrolysis?
Splitting a molecule into two molecules by adding H+ and OH- derived from water
What is a species?
An atom, an ion, a radical or a molecule
What is a nucleophile?
An electron pair donor, often negatively charged ions or species with a lone pair
What are nucelophiles attracted to?
A delta positive Carbon
What is an electrophile?
Electron pair acceptors, positively charged ions attracted to electron rich areas
What is a radical?
A species with an unpaired electron
What are structural isomers?
The molecular formula is the same but the structural formula is different
What are chain isomers?
The carbon chain is arranaged differently
What are positional isomers?
Where the functional group is attached to a different carbon
What are functional group isomers?
The isomers have different functional groups