Basic organic Flashcards
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound containing only carbon and hydrogen.
What is a homologous series?
A group of compound with similar chemical properties whose successive members differ by a CH2 group.
What is a functional group?
Part of an organic molecule which is largely responsible for its chemical properties.
What does aliphatic mean?
Carbon atoms are joined in a branched/unbranched chains.
What are the 3 types of hydrocarbon chains?
Aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic
What alicyclic mean?
Carbon atoms are joined in ring structures
What does aromatic mean?
Some/all carbon atoms are found in a benzene ring.
What are the 3 types of formulae?
Displayed, structural, skeletal
What is the displayed formula?
Relative positioning of all atoms and bonds.
What is the structural formula?
Smallest detail necessary to show arrangement.
What is the skeletal formula?
Simplified organic formula
What is an isomer?
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formula?
What are the 3 types of isomerism?
Chain - carbon skeleton arranged differently
Positional - functional group attached to a different carbon atom
Functional group - same atoms are arranged into different functional groups.
What is homolytic fission?
Each bonded atom takes 1 of the shared pair of electrons from the bond - each becomes a radical
What is a radical?
A species with an unpaired electron that is highly reactive.
