Introduction to organic chemistry Flashcards
Why can carbon form so many compounds?
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.
What are hydrocarbons?
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen only.
Saturated hydrocarbon
A saturated hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon with single bonds only.
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon containing carbon to carbon multiple bonds.
Aliphatic hydrocarbon
An aliphatic hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in straight or branched chains.
Alicyclic hydrocarbon
An alicyclic hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a ring structure.
What is the defintion of a functional group?
A functional group is part of the organic molecule responsible for its chemical reactions.
What is a functional group in more general terms?
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}
What type of carbon chain does not have much chemical reactivity?
A saturated carbon chain has little chemical reactivity.
What is a homologous series?
A homologous series is a series of organic compounds with the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2.
What is the definition for alkanes?
Alkanes are a homologous series with the general formula: CnH2n+2
What is similar about all the alkanes structure?
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.
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
1)Methane 2) Ethane 3) Propane 4) Butane 5) Pentane 6) Hexane 7) Heptane 8) Octane 9) Nonane
What is nomenclature?
Nomenclature is a system of naming compounds.
What is an alkyl group?`
An alkyl group is an alkane with a hydrogen atom removed, e.g. CH3 any alkyl group is often shown as “R”.
When naming a hydrocarbon with more than one alkyl group, what do you?
The groups are name alphabetically.
What are the basic rules to naming molecules with functional groups?
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.
For a halogenalkane what would the prefix or suffix be?
It would be for example “ bromo,chloro,floro,iodo” and would go infront of the alkane name so it would be a prefix.
For an alcohol, whats the formula and what is the suffix or prefix?
Formula = OH Prefix = Hydroxy - Suffix = - ol
Whats the formula and suffix for an aldehyde?
The suffix is -al
and formula -CHO
Whats the formula and suffix for a Ketone?
Formula = C-CO-C
Suffix = -one
Whats the formula and suffix for a carboxylic acid?
Formula= -COOH Suffix = -oic acid
When naming aldehydes what don’t you need to do?
You don’t need to add a number before the suffix -al the aldehyde carbon is always on carbon-1.
In naming molecules how do you show there is more than one of the same functional group?
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.
What is a general formula?
A general formula is the simplest algebraic formula of a member of a homologous series.
What is a displayed formula?
A displayed formula shows the relative positioning of all the atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them.
What is a structural formula?
A structural formula shows the minimal detail for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
What is the skeletal formula?
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.
What are structural isomer?
Structural isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but with different structural arrangements of atoms.
Explain the ways structural isomerism can occur?
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.
What are stereoisomers?
Stereoisomers are compounds with the same structural formula, but with a different arrangement of the atoms in space.
What is E/Z isomerism?
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.
What to criteria must a molecule satisfy to have E/Z isomerism?
1) a carbon- carbon double bond must be present.
2) Each carbon in the double bond must be attached to two different groups.
What is cis-trans isomerism?
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.
