Chapter 11 - Organic chemistry

Question 1

Why is carbon so special?

Answer 1

Carbon is in group 4, so it has 4 electrons in its outer shell, each carbon atom can form 4 covalent bonds to other atoms. These can be single, double, and even triple bonds. Carbon atoms can bond to other carbon atoms to form long chains.

Question 2

What is a hydrocarbon?

Answer 2

A compound containing hydrogen and carbon only.

Question 3

What is a saturated hydrocarbon?

Answer 3

A saturated hydrocarbon has single bonds only.

Question 4

What is an unsaturated hydrocarbon?

Answer 4

An unsaturated hydrocarbon contains carbon-to-carbon multiple bonds.

Question 5

What is a homologous series?

Answer 5

A homologous series is a family of compounds with similar properties whose successive members differ by the addition of a -CH2- group. E.g. the alkanes

Question 6

What is a functional group?

Answer 6

A functional group is the part of the organic molecule that is largely responsible for the molecules chemical properties.

Question 7

What is an aliphatic hydrocarbon?

Answer 7

When the carbon atoms are joined to each other in unbranched (straight) or branched chains, or non aromatic rings.

Question 8

What is an alicyclic hydrocarbon?

Answer 8

The carbon atoms are joined to each other in ring (cyclic) structures, with or without branches.

Question 9

What is an aromatic hydrocarbon?

Answer 9

Some or all of the carbon atoms are found in a benzene ring.

Question 10

Name three homologous series of aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Answer 10

Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes.

Question 11

What is the difference between alkanes, alkenes and alkynes?

Answer 11

Alkanes contain single carbon-to-carbon bonds.
Alkenes contain at least one double carbon-to-carbon bond.
Alkynes contain at least one triple carbon-to-carbon bond.

Question 12

What is the purpose of the stem, prefix and suffix with the naming of organic compounds?

Answer 12

The stem of the name indicates the number of carbon atoms in the longest continuous chain in the molecule.
A prefix can be added before the stem, often to indicate the presence of side chains or a functional group.
A suffix is added after the stem to indicate functional group.

Question 13

What is the functional group of an alkene, and what would be the suffix?

Answer 13

C=C

It would end in -ene

Question 14

What is the functional group of alcohol? What would be the prefix or suffix?

Answer 14

-OH
Prefix = hydroxyl
Suffix = -ol

Question 15

What’s the functional group of a haloalkane? What could a haloalkane compounds prefix’s be?

Answer 15

• Cl
• Br
• I

Prefix’s = chloro- bromo- iodo-

Question 16

What is the functional group of an aldehyde? What would the compound end in?

Answer 16

-CHO

The suffix would be -al

Question 17

What is the functional group for a ketone compound and what is a compounds suffix?

Answer 17

-C(CO)C-

Ends in -one

Question 18

What’s the functional group of a carboxylic acid and what does a compound end in?

Answer 18

-COOH

Ends in -oic acid

Question 19

What is the molecular formula?

What doesn’t it show?

Answer 19

The molecular formula shows the number and type of atoms of each element present in a molecule.
The molecular formula doesn’t show how the atoms are joined together. So different molecules can have the same molecular formula.

Question 20

What is the empirical formula?

Answer 20

The empirical formula is the simplest whole-number ratio of the atoms of each element present in a compound.

Question 21

What’s the general formula?

Answer 21

The general formula is the simplest algebraic formula for any member of a homologous series. E.g. CnH2n

Question 22

What is the displayed formula?

Answer 22

A displayed formula shows the relative positioning of all of the atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them.

Question 23

What is the structural formula?

Answer 23

The structural formula is