Basic concepts of organic chemistry Flashcards
Define hydrocarbon
compound containing hydrogen and carbon only.
define a saturated hydrocarbon
a compound containing single carbon-carbon bonds only.
Define an unsaturated hydrocarbon
A compound containing one or more double carbon-carbon bond.
What does the term aliphatic mean?
a compound which has its carbon atoms joined together as straight, branched or cyclic (non aromatic/ no benzene).
What does the term alicyclic mean?
A compound which atoms are joined together in a (cyclic) ring structure, which is non aromatic (excluding benzene).
What does the term aromatic mean?
Any compound which contains a benzene ring.
Alkane structure
contain single carbon-carbon bonds.
Alkene structure
Contains at least one double carbon-carbon bond.
Alkynes structure
Containes at least one triple carbon-carbon bond.
name the alkane groups.
1-Meth
2-Eth
3-Prop
4-But
5-Pent
6-Hex
7-Hept
8-Oct
9-Non
10-Dec
Define homologous series
A series of compounds containing the same functional group with each successive member differing by CH2.
Define functional group
A group of atoms responosible for the characteristic reactions of a compound.
Describe alkyl groups and give their structural formula.
hydrocarbon side chains
C n H 2n+1
Define General formula and give the example for alkanes
Simplest algebraic formula of a memeber in the homologus series.
Alkanes = C (n) H (2n+2)
Define displayed formula
The displayed formula shows the realtive position of atoms and the bonds between them.
Define the structural formula and give the example for Butane
The structural formula gives the minium amount of detail to show the arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
Butane = CH3CH2CH2CH3
Skeletal formula
Simplified organic formula, shown by removing hydrogen atoms from alkyl chains, leaving just a carbon skeleton and associated functional groups.
What is the alkane with 5 carbons?
pentane
What is the alkane with 7 carbons?
heptane
What is the alkane with 6 carbons?
hexane
What is the alkane with 8 carbons?
Octane
What is the alkane with 9 carbons?
Nonane
What is the alkane with 10 carbons?
Decane
What is a radical?
A species with an unpaired electron
Define what occurs in homolytic fission?
A covalent bond is brocken, each of the bonded atoms take one electron form the covelant bond’s shared pair of electrons.
Define what occurs in Heterolytic fission?
When a covalent bond is brocken one of the bonded atoms takes both electrons, forming a negative ion, the other atom forms a positive ion.
What are structural isomers?
Structural isomers are compounds with the same molecular formulae but different structural formulae.
what does a curly arrow show?
(double headed)
the movement of an electron pair
What happens in an addition reaction?
Two reactants join together to form one product.
What happens in an elimination reaction?
One reactant molecule forms two products.
What happens in a substitution reaction?
An atoms/group of atoms on a molecule is replaced by another atom/group of atoms.
