Chapter 11 - Basic concepts of organic chemistry Flashcards
What is important to remember about all organic compounds?
They contain carbon atoms
Why is carbon so important, especially in organic chemistry?
It forms chains easily
What does catenation mean?
Forming chains
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound only containing hydrogen and carbon
What is a saturated hydrocarbon?
A hydrocarbon containing only single carbon bonds with the maximum amount of hydrogen atoms
What is an unsaturated hydrocarbon?
Contains multiple carbon-carbon bonds with less than the maximum amount of hydrogen atoms
What is a homologous series?
A family of compounds that have the same functional group and general formula
What do consecutive embers of a homologous series differ by?
A CH2 group
What are the three important important homologous series?
Alkanes, alkenes and alkynes
What are alkanes?
Organic hydrocarbons that are saturated and have only single carbon-carbon bonds
What are alkenes?
Organic hydrocarbons that are unsaturated and have double carbon-carbon bonds
What are alkynes?
Organic hydrocarbons that are unsaturated and have triple carbon-carbon bonds
What is a functional group?
The part of the organic molecule that gives the homologous series its characteristic reactions or properties
What are aliphatic hydrocarbons?
Carbon atoms linked in a straight chain, a branched chain or non-aromatic rings
What are alicyclic hydrocarbons?
Carbon atoms are joined in a ring
What are aromatic hydrocarbons?
Hydrocarbons containing a benzene ring
What is an alkyl group?
A fragment of the molecule with the general formula Cn H2n+1
What does the stem of a chemical name indicate?
The number of carbon atoms in the longest continuous chain
What does the prefix of a chemical name indicate?
The main functional group, which tells you which homologous series the molecule is in
Describe the process of naming alkanes
1) All alkanes will have the suffix -ane
2) Identify the longest carbon chain
3) Identify any alkyl groups attached to the carbon chain
4) Add numbers before any alkyl groups to show their position on the carbon chain
If there is more than one identical side chain or group, what should you use?
Di- or tri-
How many carbon atoms are in methane?
1
How many carbon atoms are in ethane?
2
How many carbon atoms are in propane?
3
How many carbon atoms are in butane?
4
Formula of methane
CH4
Formula of ethane
C2H6
Formula of propane
C3H8
Formula of butane
C4H10
Formula of pentane
C5H12
Formula of hexane
C6H14
Formula of heptane
C7H16
Formula of octane
C8H18
Formula of nonane
C9H20
Formula of decane
C10H22
What is the methyl alkyl group?
CH3
What is the ethyl alkyl group?
C2H5
What is the propyl alkyl group?
C3H7
What is the butyl alkyl group?
C4H9
What is the pentyl alkyl group?
C5H11
What is the hexyl alkyl group?
C6H13
What is the heptyl alkyl group?
C7H15
What is the octyl alkyl group?
C8H17
What is the nonyl alkyl group?
C9H19
What is the decyl alkyl group?
C10H21
How to name organic compounds containing different functional groups?
1) Identify and name the longest unbranched carbon chain
2) Identify any functional or alkyl groups and select the appropriate prefixes or suffixes for them
3) Number the alkyl and functional groups to show their position on the chain
What is the functional group of alkenes?
C=C bond
What is the suffix used when naming alkenes?
-ene
What is the functional group of alcohols?
-OH
What suffix is used when naming alcohols?
-ol
What are the possible functional groups of haloalkanes?
-Cl, -Br or -I
What are the three suffixes used when naming haloalkanes?
Chloro-, Bromo- or Iodo-
What is the functional group of an aldehyde?
-CHO
double bond between carbon and oxygen
What suffix is used when naming aldehydes?
-al
What is the functional group of a ketone?
-C(CO)C-
double bond between middle carbon and oxygen
What suffix is used when naming ketones?
-one
What is the functional group of a carboxylic acid?
-COOH
double bond between carbon and one oxygen
What suffix is used when naming carboxylic acids?
-oic acid
What is the functional group of an ester?
-COOC-
double bond between carbon and one oxygen
What suffix is used when naming esters?
Alkyl-…-anoate
What is the functional group of an acyl chloride?
-COCl-
double bond between carbon and oxygen
What suffix is used when naming acyl chlorides?
-oyl chloride
What is an amine functional group?
-NH2
What prefix and suffix is used to name amine compounds?
Amino-…..-amine
What is the nitrile functional group?
-CN
What suffix is used when naming nitrile compounds?
-nitrile
What does a general formula show you?
An algebraic formula that can describe any member of a family of compounds
What does an empirical formula show you?
The simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound
What does the molecular formula show you?
The actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule
What does the displayed formula show you?
The relative positioning of all the atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them
What does the structural formula show you?
The minimal detail for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule
What does the skeletal formula show you?
All hydrogen atoms are removed from the alkyl chain, leaving just the carbon skeleton and associated functional groups
What is the skeletal formula of benzene?
A hexagon with a circle inside
The general formula for alkanes
Cn H2n+2
The general formula for alkenes
Cn H2n
The general formula for cycloalkanes
Cn H2n
The general formula for alcohols
Cn H2n+1 OH
The general formula for carboxylic acids
Cn H2n O2
The general formula for ketones
Cn H2n O
What are isomers?
Two molecules with the same molecular formula but the atoms are arranged differently
What are the two main types of isomerism?
Structural isomerism
Stereoisomerism
What are structural isomers?
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae
What are the three types of structural isomer?
Chain isomers
Positional isomers
Functional group isomers
What are chain isomers?
The carbon skeleton can be arranged differently, e.g. a straight line or branched in different ways
Characteristics of chain isomers
Similar chemical properties but different physical properties
What are positional isomers?
The skeleton and functional group can be the same but it is attached to a different carbon atom
Characteristics of positional isomers
Different physical and chemical properties
What are functional group isomers?
The atoms can be arranged into different functional groups
Characteristics of functional group isomers
Very different physical and chemical properties
What are the two ways in which covalent bonds can be broken?
Homolytic fission and heterolytic fission
What is homolytic fission?
Each of the bonded atoms takes one of the shared pair of electrons from the bond
What are radicals (sometimes called free radicals)?
Atoms or groups with unpaired electrons
What is heterolytic fission?
When a covalent bond is broken, one of the bonded atoms takes both of the electrons, producing one negatively charged ion and one positively charged ion
In which direction will the electrons move during heterolytic fission?
Towards the more electronegative element
What is an organic reaction mechanism?
The sequence of bond-breaking and bond-making steps that show the path taken by electrons during a reaction
What are curly arrows used for?
To show the movement of electrons when bonds are broken or made
What are double-headed arrows used for?
To show the movement of a pair of electrons
What are single headed arrows used for?
To show the movement of just one electron
What happens during an addition reaction?
Two reactants join together to form one product
What happens during a substitution reaction?
An atom or group of atoms are replaced by a different atom or group of atoms
What happens during an elimination reaction?
A small molecule is removed from a larger one to form two products from one reactant
What is a homologous series?
A family of compounds with the same functional group and similar chemical properties, whose successive members differ by the addition of a CH2 group
What do cycloalkanes have the same general formula as?
Alkenes
What is an electrophile?
An electron pair acceptor, e.g. Br2
What is a nucleophile?
An electron pair donor, e.g. OH-
