Module 4 - Organic Chemistry Basics Flashcards
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms.
What is a saturated hydrocarbon?
The compound only has single bonds. For example the structure of methane.
What is an unsaturated hydrocarbon?
An unsaturated hydrocarbon contains c=c multiple bonds. For example the structure of but-2-ene
What is a homologous series?
A homologous series is a family of compounds with similar chemical properties whose successive members different by the addition of a CH2- group.
What is a functional group?
A functional group is the part of an organic molecule that is largely responsible for the molecule’s chemical properties.
What are aliphatic hydrocarbons?
Aliphatic hydrocarbons are carbon atoms joined to each other in unbranched or branched chains or non-aromatic rings. Basically everything that does not have a benzene ring.
What is an alicyclic hydrocarbon?
Alicyclic hydrocarbons are carbon atoms joined to each other in a ring (cyclic) structure, with or without branches.
What is an aromatic hydrocarbon?
Some or all of the carbon atoms are found in a benzene ring.
What are three homologous series of aliphatic compounds?
Alkanes - containing single carbon to carbon bonds
Alkenes - containing at least 1 double carbon to carbon bond
Alkynes- containing at least 1 triple carbon to carbon bond
What is molecular formulae?
The 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.
What is empirical formulae?
The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of the atoms of each element present in a compound
What is general formula?
The general formula is the simplest algebraic formula for any member of a homologous series. For example for Alkenes it’s CnH2n.
What is displayed formula?
A displayed formuka shows the relative positioning of all the atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them.
What is structural formula?
The structural formula uses the smallest amount of detail necessary to show the arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
What are isomers?
Different compounds with the same molecular formula
What are structural isomers?
Structural isomers are compunds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae. For example, butane and 2-methylpropane.
What is homolytic fission?
When a covalent bond breaks by homolytic fission, each one of the bonded atoms takes one of the shared pair of electrons from the bond.
What is a radical?
A species with an unpaired electron.
What is heterolytic fission?
When a covalent bond breaks by heterolytic fission, one of the bonded atoms takes both of the electrons from the bond. This forms a negative and positive ion.
What does a curly arrow show in a mechanism?
The movement of an electron pair.
What are the three types of reaction?
Addition - two reactants join together to form one product
Substitution - where an atom or group of atoms is replaced by an atom or group of atoms.
Elimination - the removal of a small molecule from a larger one. One reactant molecule forms two products, usually the small product is water.
