Organic Chemistry Flashcards
Acid and Bases: Lewis Acid:
e- acceptor. Has vacant orbitals or + polarized atoms
Acids and Bases: Lewis Base
e- donor. Has a lone pair of e-, are often anions
Acids and Bases: Brønsted-Lowry Acid:
Proton donor
Acids and Bases: Brønsted-Lowry Base
Proton acceptor
Acids and Bases: Amphoteric
Molecules
Can act as either acids or bases, depending on
reaction conditions.
Acids and Bases: Ka
Acid dissociation constant. A measure of acidity. It is
the equilibrium constant corresponding to the
dissociation of an acid, HA, into a proton and its
conjugate base.
Acids and Bases : pKa
An indicator of acid strength. pKa decreases down the
periodic table and increases with EN.
p𝐾a = −log (𝐾a)
Acids and Bases: a-carbon
A carbon adjacent to a carbonyl.
Acids and Bases: a-hydrogen
Hydrogen connected to an a-carbon.
Redox Reactions: Oxidation Number
The charge an atom would have if all its bonds were
completely ionic.
Redox Reactions: Oxidation:
Raises oxidation state. Assisted by oxidizing agents.
REDOX Reactions: Oxidizing Agent:
Accepts electrons and is reduced in the process
Redox Reactions: Reduction
Lowers oxidation state. Assisted by reducing agents
Redox Reactions: Reducing Agent
Donates electrons and is oxidized in the process
Solvents: Polar Protic
Polar Protic solvents
Acetic Acid, H2O,
ROH, NH3
Sovents Polar Aprotic
Polar Aprotic solvents
DMF, DMSO,
Acetone, Ethyl Acetate
Nucleophiles:
“Nucleus-loving”. Contain lone pairs or p bonds. They have (arrow up)
EN
and often carry a NEG charge. Amino groups are
common organic nucleophiles
Nucleophilicity
A kinetic property. The nucleophile’s strength. Factors that
affect nucleophilicity include charge, EN, steric hindrance,
and the solvent
Electrophiles
“Electron-loving”. Contain a + charge or are positively
polarized. More positive compounds are more electrophilic
Leaving Group:
Molecular fragments that retain the electrons after
heterolysis. The best LG can stabilize additional charge
through resonance or induction. Weak bases make good LG