Organic Chemistry Flashcards
what is optical isomerism?
- same structural formula, different arrangement of atoms in space
- mirror images of each other
- have chiral carbon atom
what is a chiral carbon?
has 4 different groups attached
what are enantiomers?
molecules that are mirror images of each other and are non-superimposable
how can you tell if isomers are optically active?
will rotate plane polarised light
what is a racemic mixture?
mixture with equal amounts of each enantiomer
why don’t racemates rotate plane polarised light?
2 enantiomers rotate light in opposite directions + they cancel out
what are aldehydes oxidised to?
carboxylic acids
outline how tollens reagent is made
add a few drops of NaOH and a few drops of dilute NH3 to silver nitrate until the pale brown ppt dissloves
what can tollens reagent be used for? how?
- testing for aldehydes and ketones
- aldehydes: tollens reduced to silver mirror
- ketones: no ppt formed
what can Fehling’s solution be used for? how?
- test for aldehydes and ketones
- add warm to aldehyde/ketone
- aldehyde will turn blue solution to red red ppt (Cu2)
- ketone solution remain blue
name one reducing agent used to reduce aldehydes/ketones? what is formed?
- NaBH4
- primary (aldehydes) or secondary alcohols (ketones)
what is esterification?
formation of esters by reacting alcohols with carboxylic acids or acid anhydrides
give a word equation for the production of an ester from an alcohol and carboxylic acid. include the name of the catalyst
carboxylic acid + alcohol –sulfuric acid–> ester + water
give a word equation for the production of an ester from an alcohol and acid anhydride
acid anhydride + alcohol —-> ester + carboxylic acid
give an example of an ester. which alcohol and carboxylic acid is required to make this?
methyl ethanoate
methanol + ethanoic acid
what are the uses of esters?
- perfumes + food flavourings
- solvents -> polar so compounds will dissolve readily in esters
- glues -> low bp + evaporate easily
- plasticisers
what are the conditions required for the acid hydrolysis of esters? what is produced?
- dilute acid (sulfuric/HCl)
- reflux
- carboxylic acid + alcohol
what are the conditions required for the base hydrolysis of esters? what is produced?
- dilute base, e.g. NaOH
- reflux
- carboxylate ion + alcohol
what is the IUPAC name for glycerol?
propane-1,2,3-triol
give an example of a fat or oil with unsaturate hydrocarbon chains?
vegetable oils
what are the properties of oils/fats with unsaturated hydrocarbon chains? why?
- liquids at room temp
- chains not straight = can’t pack closely together = weaker vdw = lower mp
give an example of an oil/fat with saturated hydrocarbon chains
animal fats
what are the properties of oils/fats with saturated hydrocarbon chains?
- solids at room temp
- staight + more uniform chains = can pack closely together = stronger vdw = higher mp
how can soap be produced? give a word equation.
hydrolysing animal fats and vegetable oils by heating with NaOH
fat + sodium hydroxide –> glycerol + soap (sodium salt)