Introduction into Organic Chemistry

Question 1

What is a hydrocarbon?

Answer 1

A compound made up hydrogen and carbon only.

Question 2

What does saturated mean?

Answer 2

Does not contain a carbon double bond.

Question 3

What does unsaturated mean?

Answer 3

contains a C-C double bond.

Question 4

What is a molecular formula?

Answer 4

The formula shows the actual number of each type of atom.

Question 5

What is an empirical formula?

Answer 5

Shows the simplest whole number ratio of each atom of each element in the compound.

Question 6

What is a general formula?

Answer 6

An algebraic formula for a homologous series.

Question 7

What is a structural formula?

Answer 7

Shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule in the simplest way possible.

Question 8

What is the displayed formula?

Answer 8

Shows all the covalent bonds and atoms in a compound.

Question 9

What is a skeletal formula?

Question 10

What is a functional group?

Answer 10

a group of atoms which determines the chemical properties of a homologous series.

Question 11

What is a homologous series?

Answer 11

Compounds that have the same general formula and functional group.

Question 12

What are structural isomers?

Answer 12

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but a different structural formula.

Question 13

What are the different types of structural isomers?

Answer 13

1. Chain isomers
2. Position isomers
3. Functional Group isomer

Question 14

What are chain isomers?

Answer 14

compounds that have the same molecular formula but different carbon skeletons

Question 15

What are position isomers?

Answer 15

Compounds have the same molecular formula but a different structural formula because the functional group is placed in a different position on the carbon skeleton.

Question 16

What are functional group isomers?

Answer 16

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but different functional groups.

Question 17

What is stereoisomerism?

Answer 17

When compounds have the same structural formula but a different arrangement of atoms within a space.

Question 18

How do E-Z isomers in alkenes come about?

Answer 18

1. The restricted rotation around the carbon double bond.
2. There are two different groups attached to both ends of the double bond.

Question 19

Why does But-1-ene not show E-Z isomerism?

Answer 19

Because on one side of the double bond, there are two identical groups.

Question 20

What is the priority group?

Answer 20

The atom with the bigger atomic number.

Question 21

What are the CIP rules for naming E-Z isomers?

Answer 21

1. The atom with the highest atomic number will be given priority.
2. If the atoms are the same consider the atoms at distance 2 from the double bond and the one with the highest atomic number will be given priority.

Question 22

What are the differences between E-Z isomers?

Answer 22

The isomers have different melting and boiling points.