Basic Concepts of Organic Chemistry

Question 1

What is a hydrocarbon?

Answer 1

A compound containing only hydrogen and carbon.

Question 2

What is the difference between a saturated and an unsaturated hydrocarbon?

Answer 2

A saturated hydrocarbon only has single bonds. Whereas an unsaturated hydrocarbon contains multiple bonds.

Question 3

What is a homologous series?

Answer 3

A compound with the same functional group that differ by CH2.

Question 4

What is a functional group ?

Answer 4

The part of the organic molecule that is responsible for the molecule’s chemical properties.

Question 5

Q
What is an alicyclic hydrocarbon?

Answer 5

Aliphatic compounds arranged in non-aromatic rings with or without side chains.
e.g. Cyclohexane

Question 6

Q
What is an aliphatic hydrocarbon?

Answer 6

Compound containing hydrogen and carbon joined together in straight, branched or non-aromatic rings.
e.g. Methane

Question 7

What is the difference between alkanes, alkenes and alkynes?

Answer 7

Alkanes - single carbon carbon bonds
Alkenes - one or more carbon carbon double bond
Alkynes - one or more carbon carbon triple bond

Question 8

Q
What is the functional group and suffix for an alkene?

Answer 8

c=c
-ene

Question 9

Q
What is the functional group and suffix for an alcohol?

Answer 9

-OH
-ol

Question 10

Q
What is the functional group and prefix for a haloalkane?

Answer 10

-Cl / -Br / -I
Chloro- / Bromo- / Iodo-

Question 11

What is the functional group and suffix for an aldehyde?

Answer 11

-CHO
-ends in ‘al ‘

h-c=o
h-c-h

Question 12

What is the functional group and suffix for a ketone?

Answer 12

-C(CO)C-
-ends in ‘one ‘

c
c=o
c

Question 13

Q
What is the functional group and suffix for a carboxylic acid?

Answer 13

-COOH
-oic acid

O=c-OH
H- c-H

Question 14

Q
What is a general formula?

Answer 14

The simplest algebraic formula for any member of a homologous series.

Question 15

What is displayed formula?

Answer 15

A
Shows the relative positioning of all of the atoms in a molecule and the bonds.
(The one you draw out)

Question 16

What is structural formula?

Answer 16

Gives the minimum detail for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule

Question 17

What is skeletal formula?

Answer 17

The briefest way of representing organic molecules. Lines are used to indicate alkyl chains, and every corner representing a carbon atom.

Question 18

Isomer

Answer 18

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formula

Question 19

Types of Isomerism:

Answer 19

Chain
Position
Functional group

Question 20

Chain Isomerism

Answer 20

-Caused by different arrangements of the carbon skeleton
-Similar chemical properties
-Slightly different physical properties
-More branching, lower boiling point.

Question 21

Positional Isomerism

Answer 21

• Molecule has the same carbon skeleton
• Molecule has the same functional group but the functional group is in a different position.
• Have similar chemical properties / different physical properties.

Question 22

Functional group Isomerism

Answer 22

• Molecules have the same molecular formula
• Molecules have different functional groups
• Molecules have different chemical properties
• Molecules have different physical properties.

Question 23

Aromatic

Answer 23

Compound containing a benzene ring.
e.g. Chlorobenzene