Organic Basics (11) Flashcards
What is the main element in organic chemistry?
Carbon
What is a hydrocarbon chain?
A compound that contains carbons and hydrogens only
Saturated hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon chain that only has single bonds
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon chain with carbon-carbon multiple bonds like double bonds for example. This means these bonds can be broken and other hydrogens can be added.
What is a homologous series?
A homologous series is a family of compounds that all have the same functional group, general formula and each successive member differs by -CH2. An example is alkenes.
What is a functional group?
A functional group is a part of an organic molecule that is responsible for its chemical properties e.g. -OH group on alcohols
Aliphatic hydrocarbon
Straight or branched hydrocarbon chain
Aromatic hydrocarbon
Contains a benzene ring
Alicyclic hydrocarbon
Contains a non-aromatic ring
Alkyl groups
Fragments of molecules e.g. CH3
General formula
An algebraic formula that describes a homologous series
Empirical formula
The simplest whole-number ratio of atoms of an element in a compound
Molecular formula
The actual number of atoms of each element in a compound
Structural formula
Shows arrangements of each carbon e.g. CH3CH2CH3
Skeletal formula
Shows functional groups only and a hydrocarbon skeleton
Displayed formula
Shows how all atoms are arranged
What is the functional group and suffix of alkanes?
C-C ends in -ane
What is the functional group and suffix of alkenes?
C=C ends in -ene
What is the functional group and prefix of haloalkanes?
C-X where X is halogen, starts in halogen name e.g. chloro-
What is the functional group and suffix of alcohols?
C-OH ends in -ol
What is the functional group and suffix of aldehydes?
R-C=O ends in -al
H
What is the functional group and suffix of ketones?
R-C=O ends in -one
R
What is the functional group and suffix of carboxylic acids?
R-C=O ends in -oic acid
OH
What is the functional group and suffix of esters?
R-C=O
R starts in alkyl- or ends in -anoate
O
What is the functional group and suffix of acyl chlorides?
R-C=O ends in -oyl chloride
Cl
What is the functional group and suffix of amine?
R-N-H ends in -amine
H
What is the functional group and suffix of an amide?
R-C=O ends in -amide
NH2
What is the functional group and suffix of a nitrile?
-C ≡ N ends in -nitrile
What is the functional group and suffix of an ether?
C-O-C ends in -oxy or -ane
How to name organic compounds?
1) Count the number of carbons in the longest continuous chain you can form.
2) Notice any functional groups that can help tell you the suffix
3) Notice any side chains and add them as prefixes in alphabetical order, write the number carbon they are on
4) If there is more than one of the same side chain add di- tri- or tetra- in front of it
5) Numbers are separated by commas and a number and a letter is separated by a hyphen
What is an isomer and what types are there?
Isomers are compounds that have the same molecular formulae but their atoms are arranged differently. There are structural and stereoisomers.
Structural isomers
These are compounds that have the same molecular formulae but different structural formulae because their atoms are connected in different ways.
Chain Isomers
The carbon skeleton is arranged differently for example it might go from a straight chain to a branched chain.
Positional isomers
The carbon skeleton stays the same, however, the functional group is moved to a different carbon atom so has different chemical properties
Functional group isomer
Atoms can be arranged into different functional groups and these have very different physical and chemical properties.
Steps to go through when trying to find an isomer
1) Can I rearrange the carbon skeleton? Can it be branched or straightened. Make sure you check if it’s symmetrical because carbon single bonds can rotate freely.
2) Can I move the functional group elsewhere?
3) Can I change this functional group into something else?
What is homolytic fission?
When a covalent bond is broken by homolytic fission, each atom in the covalent bond receives one electron. This means you end up with two atoms that each have a single unpaired electron. These are radicals
What is heterolytic fission?
When a covalent bond is broken by heterolytic fission one atoms will take both of the electrons and one of them won’t take any. This results in the formation of a positive and negative ion
What is a reaction mechanism?
It gives you information on how the reaction takes place like what is receiving or donating electrons
Why do we use curly arrows in reaction mechanisms?
It shows how electron pairs move when bonds are broken or made
Addition Reaction
When two reactants join together to form one product
Substitution Reaction
When an atom or group of atoms in a compound is replaced by a different atom or group of atoms so it is substituted.
Elimination Reaction
You have one reactant and small molecules are removed from the large molecule to make two products
