M4 Chapter 11 - Basic Concepts of Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound containing carbon and hydrogen only; examples include but-2-ene and propyne.
What is a saturated hydrocarbon?
A saturated hydrocarbon has single bonds only. Eg: Methane
What is an unsaturated hydrocarbon?
An unsaturated hydrocarbon contains C=C bonds (Ie: Carbon-Carbon multiple bonds). Eg: But-2-ene or Propyne.
What is a homologous series?
A family of organic compounds with similar chemical structures and properties whose successive members differ by the addition of a -CH2 group.
What is the simplest Homologous Series?
The Alkanes.
What are alkanes?
Alkanes contain only C-C single bonds.
What is a Functional Group?
A functional group is the part of the organic molecule that is largely responsible for the molecule’s chemical properties.
How do different functional groups form?
Carbon being able to bond to other elements like Oxygen, Nitrogen and the Halogens results in the formation of molecules containing different functional groups.
How can hydrocarbons be classified?
Aliphatic, Alicyclic and Aromatic
What is Aliphatic?
Aliphatic is where Carbon atoms are joined together in an unbranched (straight) or branched chains, or non-aromatic rings.
What is Alicyclic?
Carbon atoms are joined to eachother to resemble a ring (cyclic) structures, with or without branches.
What is aromatic?
Some or all of the carbon atoms found in the benzene ring.
Give 3 Aliphatic Hydrocarbon homologous series’.
Alkanes: Containing single carbon-carbon bonds.
Alkenes: Containing at least one double C=C bond.
Alkynes: Containing at least one triple C≡C bond.
What are the 3 ways we represent the formulae of organic compounds?
Structural, Displayed and Skeletal.
What is the definition of molecular formula?
A molecular formula shows the number and type of atoms of each element present in a molecule. It does not show how the atoms are joined together and different molecules can have the same molecular formula.
What is the definition of empirical formula?
The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of the atoms of each element present in a compound.
What is the definition of general formula?
The general formula is the simplest algebraic formula for any member of a homologous series. Eg: CnH2n for alkenes.
What is the general formula of alkanes?
CnH2n+2
What is the general formula of alkenes?
CnH2n
What is the general formula of alcohols?
CnH2n+1OH
What is the general formula of carboxylic acids?
CnH2nO2
What is the general formula of ketones?
CnH2nO
What is the displayed formula?
A displayed formula shows the relative positioning of all the atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them.
What is the structural formula?
The structural formula uses the smallest amount of detail to show the arrangement of the atoms in a molecule. It shows clearly which groups are bonded together.
What is skeletal formula?
A skeletal formula is a simplified organic formula. It only shows a carbon skeleton and any functional groups. Specifically you have; a line representing a single bond; an intersection of two lines representing a Carbon atom; and the end of a line representing a CH3 group.
What is Structural Isomerism?
Structural isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae. Eg: C5H12 –> CH3CH2CH2CH3 and CH3CH(CH3)CH3
What types of structural isomerism are there?
Chain Isomerism, Positional Isomerism and Functional Group Isomerism
What is Chain Isomerism?
Chain Isomerism is when compounds have the same molecular formula but their longest hydrocarbon chain is not the same.
What is Positional Isomerism?
Positional Isomerism is when a functional group is at different positions along the hydrocarbon chain.
What is Functional Group Isomerism?
Functional Group isomerism is when different functional groups result in the same molecular formula. Eg: Butanol and Ethoxyethane.
What is a covalent bond?
A shared pair of electrons between two atoms.
How are covalent bonds broken?
Covalent bonds are broken via Homolytic Fission and Heterolytic Fission.
What is Homolytic Fission?
When a covalent bond is broken, each of the bonded atoms take one of the shared pair of electrons from the bond. It results in each atom having a single unpaired electron.
What is a radicle?
An atom of groups of atoms with an unpaired electron is called a radicle.
What is Heterolytic Fission?
When a covalent bond is broken, one of the bonded atoms takes both of the electrons from the bond. The atom taking both electrons becomes a negative ion and the atom not taking the electrons becomes a positive ion.
What is a reaction mechanism?
A way of representing how a reaction takes place.
What do curly arrows represent in a reaction mechanism?
Curly arrows show the movement of electron pairs when bonds are being broken or made.
What are the types of reaction?
Addition, Substitution and Elimination
What is an addition reaction?
It is where two reactants join together to form one product.
What is a substitution reaction?
In a substitution reaction, an atom or group of atoms is replaced by a different atom or group of atoms.
What is an elimination reaction?
An elimination reaction involves the removal of a small molecule from a larger one. Specifically, one reactant molecule forms two products. Eg: Propan1ol + Acid Catalyst –> Propene + Water
