Hydrocarbons & Organic Chemistry

Question 1

Why is carbon the best LEGO piece ever?

Answer 1

Carbon has up to 4 valence electrons which can form bonds with hydrogen or other atoms/chains. It also had a wide array of VESPR shapes such as tetrahedral, bent, and trigonal pyramidal.

Question 2

What are Hydrocarbons mainly composed of?

Answer 2

Carbon atoms as a carbon backbone, surrounded with bonded hydrogens

Question 3

Are hydrocarbons generally hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

Answer 3

Hydrocarbons are hydrophobic because oxygen and hydrogen are non-polar.

Question 4

How do the functional groups benefit us?

Answer 4

They increase the polarity of molecules–> more hydrophilic–> more soluble in the cytoplasm, blood, etc.

Question 5

Three examples of functional groups

Answer 5

Carboxyl group
Amino group
Amide group

Question 6

Isomer

Answer 6

Same # of atoms(same molecular formula), but atoms are joined in different ways

Question 7

Geometrical Isomers

Answer 7

Occurs due to the restricted rotation C=C double bonds..

two forms -CIS and Trans

Question 8

Where would you find geometrical isomers?

Answer 8

Found in fats

Question 9

Optical Isomers

Answer 9

Occurs when molecules have a chiral centre. Get two non-super impossible mirror images

Question 10

Where would you find optical isomerers?

Answer 10

Found in sugars, amino acids

Question 11

Three locations for chemical reactions in functional groups

Answer 11

• attractive forces brings molecules together
• difference in electronegativity lead to chemical reactions
• ie. joining monomers into polymers