Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What is an organic compound?
All compounds containing elements carbon and hydrogen (hydrocarbon)
Includes all molecules associated with life
10 million organic compounds (only 1.7 mill inorganic)
What is a hydrocarbon derivative?
a hydrocarbon that also includes carbs, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, plastics etc
What are some of the main differences between organic and inorganic compounds?
Organic
Covalent, low solubility and melting/boiling points, bad conductor, volatile, colourless, slow rate of reaction, living things’
(I.e. enzymes, protein, DNA, fuels)
Inorganic
Electro agent, ionic or covalent, high solubility and melting/boiling point, good conductor, non-volatile, coloured, fast rate of reaction, non-living things, non-biodegradable
(I.e. metals, salts, non-metals)
How many bonds does hydrogen, oxygen and carbon form?
Hydrogen - 1
Oxygen - 2
Carbon - 4
How do you represent a double bond and a triple bond, and what does it mean?
Double bond is shown by drawing two parallel lines between the atoms, or three for a triple bond.
It means that carbon is bonding with itself to satisfy it’s need for 4 covalent bonds, as it can’t get it elsewhere.
What is the difference between a saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon?
Saturated - hydrocarbons where all carbon-to-carbon bonds are single bonds
Unsaturated - hydrocarbons containing one or more carbon-to-carbon double/triple bonds
How do you name an organic compound
Count the number of carbons, then add the prefix related to that number.
What are the suffixes for alkanes, Alkenes and alkynes?
Alkane - ane
Alkene - ene
Alkyne - yne
What is the difference between a alkane, alkene and alkyne?
Alkane - single bonds
Alkene - double bonds
Alkyne - triple bonds
What are the prefixes for 1-10?
Meth
Eth
Prop
But
Pent
Hex
Heat
Oct
Non
Dec
What is the Alkane general formula?
C(n)H(2n+2)
What is continuous chain alkane?
Carbon atoms connected in a non branching chain
What is a branched-chain alkane?
One or more branches of carbon atoms are attached to a continuous chain (isomer)
what is a Cycloalkanes?
Saturated hydrocarbon in which carbon atoms are connected to one another in a cyclic (ring)
What are the properties of Alkane?
- insoluble in water
- density lower than water
- boiling point increases in carbon-chain length/ring size
- vigorous reaction with Oxygen (produces heat and light - exothermic)
- I.e. natural gas, petroleum, methane, ethane
What is an isomer?
A compound having the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements
As carbon increases, chances of isomers increases
Branching!
What is a stereoisomer?
Only branching on the edges!
Compounds having same molecular and structural formulas but different orientations of atoms in space
What is a cis isomer vs. a trans isomer?
Cis - occurs on same side
Trans - on opposite sides of double bonds
What is a polymer?
A large molecule formed by bonding of smaller ones, takes very long to break down
I..e styrofoam, plastic bags, prosthetics etc
How do you name an alkane?
Count from the nearest carbon,
What is hydrogenation?
In Alkene hydrogenation, a hydrogen atom is added to each carbon atom of a double bond
Double bond = not enough hydrogen atoms
The opposite process (losing hydrogen and regaining double bond) is dehydrogenation
How do you classify carbon atoms?
By the amount of carbon atoms bonded to other carbon atoms
Primary - carbon bonded to one other carbon
Secondary - carbon atom directly bonded to two other carbon atoms
Tertiary
What are the functional groups in unsaturated hydrocarbons?
Carbon-carbon Double or triple bonds
What are arenes?
Aromatic hydrocarbons - 6 membered carbon ring
Benzene ring - circle drawn inside, opposite sides are double bonds
