Introduction to organic chemistry

Question 1

Why can carbon form so many compounds?

Answer 1

1) A carbon atom can form bonds with other carbon atoms to make chains and rings.
2) A carbon atom can form a single, double or triple bond to another carbon atom.
3) A carbon atom can bond with atoms of other elements, such as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus and the halogens.

Question 2

What are hydrocarbons?

Answer 2

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen only.

Question 3

Saturated hydrocarbon

Answer 3

A saturated hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon with single bonds only.

Question 4

Unsaturated hydrocarbon

Answer 4

A hydrocarbon containing carbon to carbon multiple bonds.

Question 5

Aliphatic hydrocarbon

Answer 5

An aliphatic hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in straight or branched chains.

Question 6

Alicyclic hydrocarbon

Answer 6

An alicyclic hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a ring structure.

Question 7

What is the defintion of a functional group?

Answer 7

A functional group is part of the organic molecule responsible for its chemical reactions.

Question 8

What is a functional group in more general terms?

Answer 8

Part of the organic molecule responsible for its chemical properties. The functional group is attached to some point on the carbon backbone of the organic molecule. [Molecules with the same functional group react in a similar way}

Question 9

What type of carbon chain does not have much chemical reactivity?

Answer 9

A saturated carbon chain has little chemical reactivity.

Question 10

What is a homologous series?

Answer 10

A homologous series is a series of organic compounds with the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2.

Question 11

What is the definition for alkanes?

Answer 11

Alkanes are a homologous series with the general formula: CnH2n+2

Question 12

What is similar about all the alkanes structure?

Answer 12

Alkanes are saturated straight-chained hydrocarbons with single C-C bonds only.
1) Each carbon has a tetrahedral shape with a bond angle of 109.5.

Question 13

Give the name for the compounds with the following molecular formula:

1) CH4 2)C2H6 3)C3H8 4) C4H10 5) C5H12
6) C6H14 7) C7H16 8) C8H18 9)C9H20

Answer 13

1)Methane 2) Ethane 3) Propane 4) Butane 5) Pentane 6) Hexane 7) Heptane 8) Octane 9) Nonane

Question 14

What is nomenclature?

Answer 14

Nomenclature is a system of naming compounds.

Question 15

What is an alkyl group?`

Answer 15

An alkyl group is an alkane with a hydrogen atom removed, e.g. CH3 any alkyl group is often shown as “R”.

Question 16

When naming a hydrocarbon with more than one alkyl group, what do you?

Answer 16

The groups are name alphabetically.

Question 17

What are the basic rules to naming molecules with functional groups?

Answer 17

1) Identify the parent chain, longest unbranched chain and name the stem of the parent chain.
2) Name any alkyl groups or functional groups.
3) Identify the name of the prefix or suffix for the functional group.
4) Number any alkyl groups and functional groups to show their positions on the parent chain.

Question 18

For a halogenalkane what would the prefix or suffix be?

Answer 18

It would be for example “ bromo,chloro,floro,iodo” and would go infront of the alkane name so it would be a prefix.

Question 19

For an alcohol, whats the formula and what is the suffix or prefix?

Answer 19

Formula = OH
Prefix = Hydroxy - 
Suffix = - ol

Question 20

Whats the formula and suffix for an aldehyde?

Answer 20

The suffix is -al

and formula -CHO

Question 21

Whats the formula and suffix for a Ketone?

Answer 21

Formula = C-CO-C

Suffix = -one

Question 22

Whats the formula and suffix for a carboxylic acid?

Answer 22

Formula= -COOH
Suffix = -oic acid

Question 23

When naming aldehydes what don’t you need to do?

Answer 23

You don’t need to add a number before the suffix -al the aldehyde carbon is always on carbon-1.

Question 24

In naming molecules how do you show there is more than one of the same functional group?

Answer 24

1) di- is added to indicate two identical groups
2) tri - is added to indicate three identical groups
3) tetra - is added to indicate four identical groups.

Question 25

What is a general formula?

Answer 25

A general formula is the simplest algebraic formula of a member of a homologous series.

Question 26

What is a displayed formula?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

What is a structural formula?

Answer 27

A structural formula shows the minimal detail for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule.

Question 28

What is the skeletal formula?

Answer 28

A skeletal formula is a simplified organic formula, with hydrogen atoms removed from the alkyl chains,leaving just a carbon skeleton and associated functional groups.

Question 29

What are structural isomer?

Answer 29

Structural isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but with different structural arrangements of atoms.

Question 30

Explain the ways structural isomerism can occur?

Answer 30

1) The hydrocarbon chain can be branched or unbranched.
2) A functional group can be in different positions along the main hydrocarbon chain.
3) The functional group may be different.

Question 31

What are stereoisomers?

Answer 31

Stereoisomers are compounds with the same structural formula, but with a different arrangement of the atoms in space.

Question 32

What is E/Z isomerism?

Answer 32

E/Z isomerism is a type of stereoisomerism in which different groups attached to each carbon of a C=C double bond maybe arranged differently in space because of the restricted rotation of the C=C bond.

Question 33

What to criteria must a molecule satisfy to have E/Z isomerism?

Answer 33

1) a carbon- carbon double bond must be present.

2) Each carbon in the double bond must be attached to two different groups.

Question 34

What is cis-trans isomerism?

Answer 34

A special type of E/Z isomerism in which there is a non-hydrogen group and hydrogen on each C of C=C double bond: the cis isomer(Z isomer) has the H atoms on each carbon on the same side ; the trans isomer(E isomer) has the H atoms on each carbon on different sides.