C11 - Intro to organic Flashcards
What are the unique properties of carbon?
Ability to form four covalent bonds – single, double, triple bonds
Carbon-carbon and carbon–hydrogen bonds are relatively strong and non-polar (stability)
Catenation – ability to form long chains – carbon atoms covalently bond to each other to form a wide variety of chains and rings
What is a functional group?
A functional group is an atom or a group of atoms which are responsible for the typical chemical reactions of a molecule
Functional groups determine the pattern of reactivity of a homologous series
What is a homologous group?
A homologous series is a group of molecules with the same functional group but a different number of –CH2 groups
What does the carbon chain length determine?
Carbon chain length determines physical properties such as melting/ boiling points
How can organic compounds be represented?
empirical formula
molecular formula
general formula
structural formula
displayed formula
skeletal formula
What is the molecular formula?
The molecular formula of a compound shows the number of atoms of each element present in one molecule of the compound
C2H6
What is empirical formula?
The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of the atoms of each element in a compound
C2H6 to CH3
What is the displayed formula?
The displayed formula of a compound shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule, as well as all the bonds
What is the structural formula?
The structural formula of a compound shows how the atoms are arranged in a molecule (carbon by carbon) and which functional groups are present
CH3CHClCH3
Can be condensed
What is skeletal formula?
Skeletal formulae are abbreviated diagrammatic representations of compounds
They are bare “stick like” drawings that do not show carbon or hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon chain they are represented as lines
They do show all other atoms (e.g. oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, etc)
as well as hydrogen atoms attached to atoms other than carbon
What does the prefix cyclo- mean?
They have carbon rings, they are known as cyclic compounds
What is the root when naming organic compounds?
Longest unbranched hydrocarbon chain or ring
What are the rules when naming organic compunds?
Name the longest unbranched carbon chain
Decide whether it is “ane” or “ene” based on whether C-C or C=C in chain
Add suffix for functional groups if they are present
Add prefix for substituent or side groups
Add numbers (locant) to indicate the position of functional groups, side chains and double bonds as appropriate
What do you do when naming organic compounds and there is more than 1 side chain?
Names are placed in alphabetical order
A separate number is needed for each side chain or group
Hyphens (-) are placed between numbers and letters separating them
Use lowest number sequence possible
What are isomers?
Isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but in which the atoms are arranged in a different way
