Organic Chemistry Flashcards
what does nomenclature mean?
The system used for naming organic compounds
What does the term empirical formula mean?
Simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a molecule
What does the term displayed formula mean?
It shows every atom and every bond in a molecule
What does the term structural formula mean?
It shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule without showing every bond
Define skeletal formula
A type of formula which is drawn as lines with each vertex being a carbon atom. Carbon atoms not drawn, assumed each C atom has all unspecified bonds as C-H
Define homologous series
A series of organic compounds having the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2
What is a functional group?
A group of atoms responsible for characteristic reactions of a compound
Give the suffixes for:
- No double bonds
- At least one double bond
- An alcohol
- An Aldehyde
- A ketone
- A carboxylic acid
- No double bonds (-ane)
- At least one double bond (- ene)
- An alcohol (-ol)
- An aldehyde (-al)
- A ketone (-one)
- A carboxylic acid (-oic acid)
Give the prefixes for:
- CH3 group
- C2H5 group
- C3H7 group
- C4H9 group
- Cl group
- Br group
- I group
- CH3 group ( Methyl -)
- C2H5 group (ethyl -)
- C3H7 group ( Propyl-)
- C4H9 group (butyl-)
- Cl group (chloro-)
- Br group (bromo-)
- I group (iodo-)
What is the general formula of alkanes?
CnH2n+2
What is the general formula for alkenes?
CnH2n
What does saturated mean?
Organic compounds which only contain single bonds
What are unsaturated compounds?
Organic compounds that contain at least one carbon-carbon double covalent bond
Define structural isomerism
When molecules have the same molecular formula but different structural formula
What are the 3 ways in which structural isomers can be formed?
- Alkyl groups can be in different places
- Functional groups can be bonded to different parts
- There can be different functional groups
What are stereoisomers?
Organic compounds with the same molecular formula but have different arrangement of atoms in space
What is E-Z isomerism and how are the E and Z isomers decided?
E-Z isomerism is caused by the limited rotation about carbon to carbon double bonds
If the two substituents with the highest molecular mass are on the same side of t he double bond, it is the Z (Zusammen) isomer
if they are on different sides, it is the E ( Entgegen) isomer
What is Cis-tans isomerism?
Special type of E/Z isomerism where the two substituents on each carbon atom are the same
What is homolytic fission?
it happens when each bonding atom receives one electron from the bonded pair forming two radicals
What is heterolytic fission?
When one bonding atom receives both electrons from the bonded pair
What are radicals?
Highly reactive, neutral species
How is a covalent bond formed from two radicals?
The radicals collide and the electrons are involved in the bond formation
What is an alkane?
A saturated hydrocarbon containing C-H bonds only
How are alkane fuels obtained?
Alkane fuels are obtained from the fractional distillation, cracking and reforming crude oil`
Describe the process of fractional distillation
- The oil is pre-heated then passed into a column
- The fractions condense at different heights and the temperature of column decreases upwards
- The separation of the fuels depends on boiling point which depends on size of molecules. The larger the molecule the larger the London forces
- Similar molecules( size, bp, mass) condense together and so are collected at the same fraction
- Small molecules condense at the top at lower temperatures and big molecules condense at the bottom at higher temperatures
What is cracking?
It is the process of converting large hydrocarbons to smaller molecules by breakage of C-C bonds
What is the reforming of crude oil?
It is the processing of straight-chain hydrocarbons into branched-chain alkanes and cyclic hydrocarbons for efficient combustion
What is the shape and angle of alkane?
Tetrahedral
109.5 degrees
Describe the (sigma) bond in alkane
The sigma bond is a covalent bond which has a direct overlap of the electron clouds of the bonding atoms
How reactive are alkanes?
Very unreactive
What reactions will alkanes undergo?
Combustion and reaction with halogens
What type of reaction is combustion?
Oxidation reaction
What is complete combustion?
combustion that occurs with plentiful supply of air
Write an equation for the complete combustion of octane
C8H18 (g) + 12.5 O2 (g) -> 8CO2 (g) + 9H2O (l)
What are the products of complete combustion when alkanes are used?
Carbon dioxide and water
What is the color of the Bunsen burner flame during complete combustion?
Blue flame
What is incomplete combustion and what products are formed in the case of alkanes?
- combustion in a limited supply of oxygen
- products: Water, carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide
Write an equation for the complete combustion of propane
C3H8 + 5 O2 –> 3 CO2 + 4H2O
What type of hydrocarbon are most likely to undergo incomplete combustion?
Longer chains
What are the pollutants formed in the combustion of alkanes?
Carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, carbon particulates and unburned hydrocarbons
What is the environmental impact of carbon monoxide?
It is toxic/ poisonous
What is the environmental impact of soot (carbon)?
Asthma, cancer, global dimming
What are the environmental impacts of nitrogen oxides?
NO is toxic and can form smog
NO2 is toxic and acidic and forms acid rain
What are the environmental impacts of unbranched hydrocarbons?
They contribute towards formation of smog
What is the importance of a catalytic converter?
These remove CO, nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons
(e.g Octane, C8H18) from the exhaust gases turning them into less toxic products CO2, N2 and H2O
What are biofuels?
They are fuels developed from renewable resources. Alcohols and biodiesel are examples of renewable plant-based fuels
What are the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels?
Advantages
- Reduces use of non-renewable fossil fuels
- Use of biodiesel is more carbon-neutral
- Fossil fuels can be used as feedstock for organic compounds
- Less large scale pollution
Disadvantages
- Less food crops may be grown because crops for biofuels would be grown instead
- Reduction of rain forest that have to be cut down to provide land
- Shortage of fertile soils
How are halogenoalkanes formed from alkanes?
radical substitution
In the presence of what does alkane react with halogens?
UV light
What are the three stages of free radical substitution?
- initiation - breaking halogen bond to form free radicals
- Propagation - Chain part of reaction where prods are formed but free radical remains
- Termination - Free radicals removed, stable products formed