Classes of Organic Compounds Flashcards
ALDEHYDES
An aldehyde is defined as an organic compound containing one or more (-CHO) groups.
functional group: CHO
general formula: R-CHO
The name aldehyde comes from alcohol deprived of hydrogen, which is one of the ways aldehydes are formed.
You can partially oxidize a primary alcohol to get an aldehyde.
NAMING AN ALDEHYDE
To name an aldehyde replace the (E) ending of the saturated hydrocarbon with (AL); just as (OL) was used for alcohols.
Methane → Methanol → Methanal
- An aldehydes’ other name is derived from the prefix of its corresponding organic acids’ source.
So, you must count the carbon within the functional group when you are naming an aldehyde.
MONOALDEHYDES
Monoaldehydes are aldehydes that contain one CHO group. Ex. METHANAL / FORMALDEHYDE Molecular formula is: CH2O Line Formula is: HCHO
METHANAL / FORMALDEHYDE
Molecular formula is: CH2O
Line Formula is: HCHO
Ethanal is prepared by the partial oxidation of Methyl alcohol / Methanol.
PROPERTIES OF METHANAL / FORMALDEHYDE:
Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with an irritating / suffocating odor.
Formaldehyde is soluble in water.
Formaldehyde is readily oxidized to formic acid / methanoic acid.
It reacts with ammonia to form UROTROPIN / Methenamine (C6H12N4). Urotropine is the neutralization product of formaldehyde by ammonia.
The formation of Urotropin demonstrates the affinity of formaldehyde for nitrogen. ANY compound that contains nitrogen will attract formaldehyde. The end result is the “Neutralization” of formaldehyde.
UROTROPIN
Formaldehyde reacts with ammonia to form UROTROPIN / Methenamine (C6H12N4). Urotropine is the neutralization product of formaldehyde by ammonia.
The formation of Urotropin demonstrates the affinity of formaldehyde for nitrogen. ANY compound that contains nitrogen will attract formaldehyde. The end result is the “Neutralization” of formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde + Ammonia → UROTROPIN (Methenamine) + Water
6 HCHO + 4NH3 → C6H12N4 + 6 H2O
POLYMERIZATION
the linking together of monomers (basic chemical units) to form a polymer which is a large molecule that is a multiple of the original weight molecule.
polymerization is the process or the tendency of a molecule to combine with itself resulting in a product called a polymer
polymerization is the reaction between molecules of the same kind.
Polymerization of Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde has the tendency to polymerize to paraform / paraformaldehyde.
In the case of formaldehyde you start out with a liquid and end up with a powder which is no longer formaldehyde, it is now PARAFORM / PARAFORMALDEHYDE which precipitates out of solution because it is now a much larger molecule.
Paraform is undesirable in arterial fluids; it is used as the major preservative in solid autopsy compounds.
Methyl Alcohol is routinely included in the composition of arterial embalming fluids as an anti-polymerizing agent for formaldehyde.
USES OF FORMALDEHYDE
Formaldehyde is a good disinfectant on inanimate objects.
It is a good preservative - it reacts with proteins and preserves them. This is what we do as embalmers – preserve the body’s protein.
It is a great reducing agent.
It acts as a bactericide (kills bacteria) and inhibits yeast and mold growth.
FORMALIN
A saturated solution of formaldehyde, water and another agent, most commonly methanol. The dissolved formaldehyde gas is at a specific percentage. A solution of formalin is:
37% formaldehyde by weight or 40% formaldehyde by volume, 6-15% methanol, & the rest is water
It’s the addition of methyl alcohol (methanol) that causes the substance to be called formalin as opposed to formaldehyde.
INDEX
a term used by embalmers to express the concentration of formaldehyde in embalming fluid.
Index is a term used to indicate the strength of embalming fluid.
Index is defined as the number of grams of pure formaldehyde gas in 100 milliliters of solution.
INDEX OF ARTERIAL FLUID
5 - 15 = LOW INDEX
16 - 25 = MEDIUM INDEX
26 - 36 = HIGH INDEX
ETHANAL / ACETALDEHYDE:
Ethanal / Acetaldehyde is a monoaldehyde.
Molecular formula is: C2H4O
Line Formula is: CH3CHO
Structural formula is:
ethanal / acetaldehyde
PARALDEHYDE
PARALDEHYDE is the polymer of ethanal / acetaldehyde. When you polymerize ethanal you get paraldehyde.
There are two ways to get ETHANAL:
- When you partially oxidize ethanol you get ethanal.
- When you reduce ethanoic acid you get ethanal.
DIALDEHYDES
Dialdehydes are those aldehydes that contain two (2) CHO groups.
GLYOXAL
GLYOXAL
Molecular formula is: C2H2O2
Line Formula is: (CHO)2
Glyoxal is the simplest dialdehyde.
As you can see it is simply two CHO groups.
Glyoxal is 75% effective in embalming; however it tends to stain tissue yellow so when it is used in embalming it produces a yellow color to the deceased. For this reason, the use of glyoxal is limited to cavity fluid.
GLUTARALDEHYDE:
Molecular formula is: C5H8O2
Line Formula is: OCH(CH2)3CHO
- Glutaraldehyde is an excellent germicide that has outstanding disinfectant qualities, known as a “cold chemical sterilant”.
- -Glutaraldehyde is a good preservative that produces less firming than formaldehyde. Some embalmers prefer this because they feel it gives a more “life-like” appearance to the deceased.
- Glutaraldehyde works over a wide pH range.
- It’s a colorless water soluble liquid agent with a sharp mint like odor.
pH
pH is the measure of hydrogen ion (H+) concentration of a solution. Acids have a pH below 7, bases have a pH above 7, and neutral substances have a pH equal to 7.
Glutaraldehyde Demand
The amount of glutaraldehyde necessary to overcome any nitrogen residue and cause the body proteins to be coagulated thus resulting in preservation.
CYCLIC /AROMATIC ALDEHYDES
Aromatic compounds contain carbon atoms arranged in a ring-like pattern.
Aromatic aldehydes are used as reodorants / perfuming agents in embalming fluids.
Reodorant
Reodorants differ from deodorants in that they only replace the odor, they do not decompose it like deodorants do.