DEFINITIONS - cer Flashcards
volatility
how easily a liquid turns into a gas. Increases as boiling point decreases.
reflux
the continual boiling and condensing of a reaction mixture to ensure that the reaction takes place without the contents of the flask boiling dry
esterification
the reaction of an alcohol with a carboxylic acid to produce an ester and water
dehydration
an elimination reaction in which water is removed from a saturated molecule to make an unsaturated molecule
hydrolysis
a reaction with water or aqueous hydroxide ions that breaks a chemical compound into two compounds
nucleophile
an atom (or group of atoms) that is attracted to an electron -deficient centre or atom, where is donates a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond (AN ELECTRON PAIR DONOR)
nucleophilic substitution
a type of substitution reaction in which a nucleophile is attracted to an electron-deficient centre or atom, where it donates a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond
percentage yield =
(actual amount, in mol, of product/theoretical amount, in mol, of product) x100
limiting reagent
a substance in a chemical reaction that runs out first
atom economy =
(Mr of desired product/sum of Mr’s of all products) x100
what does percentage yield tell you?
the efficiency of converting reactants into products
what does atom economy tell you?
the proportion of desired products compared with all the products formed
radical
a species with an unpaired electron
an electrophile
an electron pair acceptor
heterolytic fission
the breaking of a covalent bond with both of the bonded electrons going to one of the atoms, forming a cation and an anion
homolytic fission
the breaking of a covalent bond with one of the bonded electrons going to each atom, forming two radicals
Alkane
Homologous series represented by the general formula CnH2n+2
Alkyl group
An alkane with a hydrogen atom removed. Often shown as ‘R’
Displayed formula
A formula showing the relative positioning of all the atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them
Empirical formula
The simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a compound
Functional group
The part of the organic molecule responsible for its chemical reactions
General formula
The simplest algebraic formula of a member of a homologous series
Homologous series
A series of organic compounds with the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2
Hydrocarbon
An organic compound of hydrogen and carbon only
Saturated
A hydrocarbon with single bonds only
Skeletal formula
A simplified organic formula, with hydrogen atoms removed from alkyl chains, leaving just a carbon skeleton and associated functional groups
Structural formula
A formula showing minimal detail for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule
Structural isomers
Molecules with the same molecular formula but with a different structural arrangement of atoms
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon containing carbon to carbon multiple bonds eg C=C
Alkene
Homologous series with the general formula CnH2n
Addition polymerisation
The process in which unsaturated alkene molecules (monomers) add on to a growing polymer chain one at a time to form a very long saturated molecular chain (polymer)
Addition reaction
A reaction in which a reactant is added to an unsaturated molecule to make a saturated molecule
Atoms economy
Molecular mass of desired product / sum of molecular masses of all products x100
Cis-trans isomerism
A special type of E/Z isomerism in which there is a non-hydrogen and hydrogen on each C of the C=C double bond: the cis isomer (Z isomer) has the H atom on each carbon on the same side; the trans isomer (E isomer) has the H atoms on each carbon on different sides
Monomer
A small molecule that combines with many other monomers to form a polymer
Pi-bond
The reactive part of a double bond formed above and below the plane of the bonded atoms by the sideways overlap of p-orbitals
Polymer
Long molecular chain built up from monomer units
Repeat unit
A specific arrangement of atoms that occurs in the structure over and over again. Included in brackets, outside of which is the symbol n
Stereoisomers
Compounds with the same structural formula but with a different arrangement of the atoms in space
functional group of carboxylic acids
C=O and C-OH (both =O and -OH attached to the same C)
-COOH
functional group of ketones
C=O
-C-CO-C
functional group of an aldehyde
C=O and C-H
-CHO
