Organic Chemistry Flashcards
Organic chemistry is the chemistry of…
Carbon and it’s compounds
What sort of bonds does carbon form
Covalent
Molecular formula
The actual number of atoms of each element present in a molecule
Empirical formula
The simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a molecule
What do we need to know to work out the molecular formula from the empirical formula
Mr
Structural formula
Shows how atoms in a molecule are arranged
Displayed formula
Shows all the atoms and bonds in a molecule
Skeletal formula
Shows the shape of the carbon skeleton
Homologous series
A family of compounds containing the same functional group and having the same general formula but having a different carbon chain length. Each successive member has an extra CH2
Functional group
An atom or group of atoms which gives an organic compound it’s particular chemical properties
Hydrocarbons
Compounds containing carbon and hydrogen atoms only
Alkanes
Contain single carbon-carbon bonds only
Alkenes
Contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds
Aliphatic hydrocarbons
Chains
Alicyclic hydrocarbons
Rings
Aromatic hydrocarbons
Benzene rings
What is nomenclature
A system of naming compounds
What 3 main parts do names of organic compounds have
The stem
The prefix
The suffix
What does the stem tell us
How many carbons there are in the longest chain bearing the functional group
Where is the prefix added
Before the stem
What does the prefix tell us
The position of the side chains and/or functional groups
Side chains are often alkyl groups
What is an alkyl group
An alkane with a hydrogen atom removed
Usually denoted by letter R
Where is the suffix added
After the stem
What does the suffix tell us
The functional group present
