Basics of Organic Chemistry Flashcards
what is a hydrocarbon?
a compound containing C and H only
what is saturated?
a compound containing only single C-C bonds
What is unsaturated?
a compound containing multiple bonds, can accept more hydrogen
what is catenation?
- carbon’s unique ability to make long chains of C atoms
What are the prefixes?
meth = 1C, eth = 2C, prop = 3C, but = 4C, pent = 5C, hex = 6C, hept=7C,
oct=8C, non=9C & dec=10C
what are isomers?
molecules with the same molecular formulae but different structures
What is empirical formula?
the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in the compounds
What is molecular formula?
the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule
What is the functional group of a compound?
The group of atoms responsible for the characteristics of a compound
what are the functional groups?
-Alkanes
-Alkenes
-Alcohols
-Aldehydes (H-C=O)
-carboxylic acids
-Ketones (O=H)
-Haloalkanes (Br,Cl,I)
which of the groups will have hydrogen bonding between molecules?
Alcohol and carboxylic acid
What is a homologous series?
Family of organic compounds with the same functional group with each successive member differing by CH2
What is general formula?
simplest algebraic formula of a member of a homologous series
What is the homologous series for Alkanes?
CnH2n+2
What is the homologous series for Alkenes/Cyclohexane?
CnH2n
What is the general formula for alcohols?
CnH2n+2O
what is structural formula?
minimal detail showing the arrangement of the atoms in the molecule e.g. CH3 (CH2)2 CH3 (butane)
What is displayed formula?
shows the relative positioning of atoms and bonds between them
what is the skeletal formula?
simplified organic formula by removing H atoms from C chains leaving just a C skeleton and the associated functional groups
What are aliphatic compounds?
Compounds containing carbon and hydrogen joined together in straight or branched chains or non-aromatic rings
what are alicylic compounds?
Aliphatic compounds arranged in non-aromatic rings, with or without side-chains
what are a aromatic compounds?
compounds containing benzene rings
What must be considered to name organic compounds?
Prefix
Stem
Suffix
What is the prefix?
the front part of the name; identifies the other functional groups including branches) and the carbon atoms they are attached to.
What is the suffix?
the end of the name, identifies the most important functional group.
What is the stem?
the main part of the name, generated by identifying the longest carbon chain or parent chain
What is the the order of priority for some of the functional groups?
-carboxylic acid
-ester
-aldehyde
-ketone
-alcohol
how do we name aliphatic compounds?
-identify the longest chain that contains the main functional group
-Number the longest carbon chain so that the main functional group has the lowest possible number
-any side chains or less functional groups are added as prefixes at the start of the name
what are the branches on organic molecules?
Alkyl groups
what is an alkyl group?
And alkane molecule that has lost a hydrogen to enable it to join to another carbon
what is the general formula for an alkyl group?
CnH2n+1
what are haloalkanes named by?
A prefix rather than a suffix
(fluoro, chloro, bromi, iodo)
what is an acyclic hydrocarbon named by?
-using the prefix cyclo- which appears directly in front of the stem, indicating the number of carbon atoms in the ring
what are structural isomers?
Have the same molecular formula, but a different structural formula
what are the three types of structural isomers?
-Chain
-Position
-Functional Group
when does chain occur?
when the variations in the carbon chain (when there are four or more carbon atoms)
when does position occur?
When the functional group is on a different carbon
When does functional group occur?
When the atoms are arranged in a different functional group
What are the two ways a bond can break?
Heterolytically or homolytically
what is homolytic fission?
-The covalent bond breaks equally so each product receives one of the shared pair of electrons to form radicals
what is heterolytic fission?
where the covalent bond brakes unequally, so one product gets both electrons from the shared pair and the other gets nothing
