organic chem Flashcards
What defines organic compounds?
Compounds that contain carbon, excluding CO(g), CO2(g), and ionic compounds
Organic compounds are primarily characterized by the presence of carbon atoms.
What are functional groups?
Structural arrangement of atoms that imparts a particular characteristic to a molecule
Functional groups play a crucial role in determining the chemical behavior of organic molecules.
What are the characteristics of carbon-carbon double or triple bonds?
- Strong
- Unreactive
- More reactive than single bonded carbon atoms
- Sites of reactions
- Unsaturated
These bonds are crucial in organic chemistry as they influence the reactivity and properties of the molecules.
What is a halocarbon?
Carbon with a halide
Halocarbons are used in various applications, including refrigerants and solvents.
What defines an alcohol?
Carbon with OH
Alcohols are characterized by the presence of a hydroxyl group and are typically polar.
What is the structure of an ether?
Oxygen in the middle of the compound
Ethers are used as solvents and have unique properties due to their structure.
How is an aldehyde defined?
Double bonded oxygen to carbon on end
Aldehydes are often used in the synthesis of various organic compounds.
What is a ketone?
Double bonded oxygen to carbon in middle
Ketones are commonly used as solvents and in organic synthesis.
What is the formula for a carboxylic acid?
Double bonded oxygen to carbon to OH
Carboxylic acids are known for their acidic properties and are widely used in organic chemistry.
What is an ester?
Ketone + ether
Esters are often responsible for the pleasant aromas of fruits and flowers.
What defines an amine?
Presence of nitrogen
Amines can act as bases and participate in hydrogen bonding.
What characterizes an amide?
Double bonded oxygen to carbon to NH
Amides are less reactive than amines and are important in biological systems.
What is the definition of a hydrocarbon?
Contains only C and H
Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds and serve as the foundation for more complex molecules.
What distinguishes alkanes?
Only single bonds, saturated, ends in ‘ane’
Alkanes are the most basic type of hydrocarbons and are relatively unreactive.
What defines alkenes?
At least one carbon-carbon double bond, end in ‘ene’
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons and are more reactive than alkanes.
What characterizes alkynes?
At least one carbon-carbon triple bond, end in ‘yne’
Alkynes are even more reactive than alkenes due to the triple bond.
What are cis and trans isomers?
Denote orientation in alkenes
The orientation can significantly affect the physical and chemical properties of the compounds.
What is the definition of isomers?
Same molecular formula as another compound, but different structure
Isomers can exhibit very different properties despite having the same molecular formula.
What is an aromatic hydrocarbon?
Based off of benzene - a 6C cyclic hydrocarbon with alternating double bonds
Aromatic compounds are known for their stability and unique reactivity patterns.
What defines alcohols in terms of structure?
Contain hydroxyl group -OH
Alcohols are polar and can form hydrogen bonds, affecting their boiling points and solubility.
How are primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols defined?
- Primary: on C1
- Secondary: on C2
- Tertiary: on C2 but C2 is bonded to 3 other Cs
The classification affects their reactivity and the types of reactions they undergo.
What is the process of forming ethers?
Condensation of alcohols
Ethers have unique properties and are used as solvents.
How is an aldehyde formed?
Oxidation of primary alcohols
Aldehydes are important intermediates in organic synthesis.
How is a ketone formed?
Oxidation of secondary alcohols
Ketones are widely used in various industrial applications.
What is the structure of carboxylic acids?
Carboxyl group (COOH)
Carboxylic acids are known for their acidic properties and are commonly found in organic compounds.
What is the naming convention for esters?
Chain single bonded to oxygen, chain with double bonded oxygen ending in ‘oate’
Esters are frequently used in flavoring and fragrance industries.
Rank the reactivity of hydrocarbons from least to most reactive.
Alkanes < benzene < aromatics < alkenes < alkynes
This ranking is critical for understanding reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry.
What are the two types of combustion reactions involving hydrocarbons?
- Complete combustion (produces carbon dioxide and water)
- Incomplete combustion (produces carbon and carbon monoxide)
These reactions are fundamental in energy production and environmental chemistry.
What is Markovnikov’s rule?
In alkenes and alkynes, one main product is formed because ‘the rich get richer’ H is added to the C that already has more H
This rule helps predict the outcome of reactions involving unsymmetrical alkenes.
What are amines derived from?
Ammonia (NH3), with one or more H atoms replaced by alkyl or aryl groups
Amines can exhibit basic properties and are important in biological systems.
What differentiates amides from amines?
Amides are less basic than amines due to the delocalization of the N’s lone pair into the carbonyl group
This affects their reactivity and properties significantly.
What are polymers?
Many repeating monomer units bonded together to make long chains
Polymers have diverse properties and applications, ranging from natural substances to synthetic materials.
What are some pros of polymers?
- Versatility
- Durability
- Biological importance
- Lightweight
- Cost-effectiveness
These advantages make polymers widely used in various industries.
What are some cons of polymers?
- Non-biodegradable
- Resource intensive
- Toxicity
- Microplastics
- Waste management
- Over-reliance on plastics
These drawbacks highlight the environmental challenges associated with polymer use.
What are some sustainable polymer alternatives?
- Biodegradable polymers
- Natural fiber polymers
- Recycling programs
- Green chemistry
These alternatives aim to reduce the environmental impact of traditional polymers.
