Module 4.1.1 - Basic concepts of organic chemistry

Question 1

What is organic chemistry?

Answer 1

The study of carbon compounds derived from crude oil

Question 2

What type of bonding is in organic compounds? How many?

Answer 2

Covalent bonds between carbon atoms (4 atoms in outer shell, so forms 4 covalent bonds)

Question 3

What is a hydrocarbon?

Answer 3

A compound that only contains hydrogen and carbon atoms

Question 4

What does saturated mean?

Answer 4

The compound only contains single carbon-carbon bonds (alkanes)

Question 5

What does unsaturated mean?

Answer 5

Contains at least one multiple bond (double/triple) between the carbon atoms
Includes, alkenes (double bond), alkynes (triple bond) and aromatic compounds (benzene)

Question 6

What does homologous series mean?

Answer 6

A family of compounds containing the same functional group but with each successive member of the series differing by a -CH2 group.

Question 7

What trends appear within a homologous series?

Answer 7

Physical properties (e.g. melting and boiling points increase)

Question 8

What is a functional group?

Answer 8

An atom/group responsible for the characteristic reactions of the compound

Question 9

Why are alkanes and alkyls not considered to be a functional group?

Answer 9

They are generally unreactive compounds as they have strong C-H and C-C bonds

Question 10

What is the functional group of the homologous series: alkene?

Answer 10

alkene group/C=C bond

Question 11

What is the functional group of the homologous series: haloalkane? (4)

Answer 11

• fluoro (-F)
• chloro (-Cl)
• bromo (-Br)
• iodo (-I)

Question 12

What is the functional group of the homologous series: alcohol?

Answer 12

alcohol/hydroxy group, -OH

Question 13

What is the functional group of the homologous series: aldehyde?

Answer 13

aldehyde group, end of carbon chain carbon: C=O and C-H

Question 14

What is the functional group of the homologous series: ketone?

Answer 14

ketone group, carbon inside the chain (not on outside), C=O with C-C bonds on either side

Question 15

What is the functional group of the homologous series: carboxylic acids?

Answer 15

carboxylic acid/carboxyl group, end of the carbon chain, C=O and C-OH

Question 16

What is the functional group of the homologous series: ester?

Answer 16

ester group, C in the chain, -C=O and the same carbon -C(double bond to O here)-O-

Question 17

What is an alkyl group?

Answer 17

Has the formula CnH2n+1, given the symbol R

Question 18

What are aromatic compounds?

Answer 18

Compounds that contain a benzene ring (C6H6)

Question 19

What are aliphatic compounds?

Answer 19

Compounds of carbon and hydrogen joined together in straight/branched chains or non-aromatic rings

Question 20

What are alicyclic compounds?

Answer 20

Compounds arranged in non-aromatic rings with/without side chains

Question 21

Can alicyclic compounds be aliphatic compounds?

Answer 21

Yes, as they are not aromatic rings.
Aliphatic compounds are not always alicyclic though

Question 22

What is the IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry?

Answer 22

A systematic method of naming organic chemical compounds.

Question 23

What are organic molecules typically made up from? (3)

Answer 23

• a parent chain/ring of C atoms (STEM)
• alkyl (R) groups, CnH2n+1
• one or more functional groups (suffix)

Question 24

What are the first ten prefixes of the stem carbon chain/ring (as the C number increases)?

Answer 24

1. meth-
2. eth-
3. prop-
4. but-
5. pent-
6. hex-
7. sept-
8. oct.
9. non-
10. dec-

Question 25

How can you remember the prefixes of the stem chain/ring?

Answer 25

Monkey
Eats
Peanut
Butter
Then think of the shapes

Question 26

What is the suffix for alkyl groups?

Answer 26

-yl e.g. CH3 = methyl, C4H9 = butyl

Question 27

What are the prefixes used for multiple functional groups (up to 10, excluding 1)?

Answer 27

2. di-
3. tri-
4. tetra-
5. penta-
6. hexa-
7. hepta-
8. octa-
9. nona-
10. deca-

Question 28

What are the rules with punctuation for the IUPAC nomenclature? (2)

Answer 28

• use a hyphen between a number and a letter
• use a comma between two numbers

Question 29

What are structural isomers?

Answer 29

Molecules with the same molecular formula but a different structural formula.

Question 30

What three ways in which structural isomerism can occur?

Answer 30

• chain isomers (shorten C chain with an R group)
• functional group position (move functional group in the chain)
• different functional group (change the functional group, e.g. aldehyde -> ketone)

Question 31

What is the empirical formula?

Answer 31

Shows the simplest whole number ratio of the atoms of each element present in a compound

Question 32

What is the molecular formula?

Answer 32

Shows the actual number of atoms of each element present in one molecule

Question 33

What is the general formula?

Answer 33

The simplest algebraic formula for any member of a homologous series

Question 34

What is the displayed formula?

Answer 34

Drawn out, shows all bonds and how all the atoms are joined together in the structure

Question 35

What is the structural formula?

Answer 35

Shows the minimum detail required for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule (states bonding around each carbon atom in the chain)
carboxyl represented as: COOH and ester as : COO

Question 36

What is the skeletal formula?

Answer 36

‘Hides’ every C atom and any H atom which is directly attached to a C atom, leaving the carbon skeleton and any functional groups.

Question 37

What is **homolytic fission*?

Answer 37

The breaking of a covalent bond where one electron from the bonding pair goes to each atom, forming 2 radicals

Question 38

What is heterolytic fission?

Answer 38

The breaking of a covalent bond where both electrons from the bonding pair goes to the same atom to form 2 ions

Question 39

What is a radical?

Answer 39

A species with an unpaired electon

Question 40

What are curly arrows?

Answer 40

Shows movement of an electron pair