Organic Chemistry Flashcards
Organic Chemistry
the branch of chemistry that deals with certain carbon-containing, covalently bonded (sharing electrons) carbon based compounds. (A compound is a substance consisting of two or more atoms chemically combined in definite proportions by mass).
polymerization
With carbon’s combining capacity, carbon atoms often form polymers, which are long chains of repeating units formed in a process known as polymerization
ORGANIC PROPERTIES
-Contain both carbon and hydrogen together in the same compound (ex: Glucose C6H12O6) -Usually Flammable -Slow to react due to their size -Covalent Bonding -Are soluble in organic solvents, but are not soluble in water (since water is an inorganic compound)
INORGANIC PROPERTIES
-May contain carbon (ex: CO2) or hydrogen (ex: H2O), but not together in the same compound. -Non-flammable -React fast because they ionize (break apart into + and - ions) -Ionic/Electrovalent Bonding -Are soluble in water and other inorganic compounds
The FUNCTIONAL GROUP
a single element or group of elements that are attached to a carbon atom in an organic compound that add certain characteristics to that carbon compound and will tell you what class the compound belongs to.
H (functional group name)
Hydrocarbons
OH (functional group name)
(Hydroxyl group) Alcohols
X (functional group name)
Halogens
CHO (functional group name)
Aldehydes
CO (functional group name)
(Carbonyl Group) Ketones
COOH (functional group name)
(Carboxyl Group) Organic Acids
COO (functional group name)
Esters
O (functional group name)
Ethers
NH2 (functional group name)
Amines
The ALKYL GROUP / RADICAL (R)
A saturated hydrocarbon (Alkane) that has one hydrogen atom removed which allows for a point of attachment for the functional group.
The GENERAL FORMULA
a formula that denotes a CLASS of compounds and includes the functional group and a symbol (R) denoting a radical. The general formula will always contain an “R”. The “R” is not a chemical symbol for an element. It represents a variable, just like when you used “x”.
The MOLECULAR FORMULA
a chemical formula which expresses the number of atoms of each element present in a molecule of a substance WITHOUT indicating how they are linked.
The STRUCTURAL FORMULA
a chemical formula which shows the spatial arrangement (blue print) of the atoms and the linkage of every atom. It is the blueprint/layout of the formula/compound. It shows you the exact positioning of each atom and bond in the compound.
The LINE FORMULA
a condensed version of the structural formula.
The General Molecular Formula For Alkanes
CnH2n+2
The General Molecular Formula for Alkenes
CnH2n
The General Molecular Formula for Alkynes
CnH2n-2
ISOMERISM
the possession by two or more distinct compounds of the same molecular formula, each molecule having the same number of atoms of each element, but in different arrangement; or the process of forming an isomer.
ISOMERS
two or more compounds of different physical and chemical properties having the same molecular formula, but different structural formulas. Structural formulas matter! Changing the layout of atoms in a compound changes the properties of that compound.
ISOTOPES
SOTOPES are atoms of the same element that have the same atomic number, but different numbers of neutrons, giving them different atomic masses. Ex: C-12 and C-14.)
propyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol.
Both have the Molecular formula = C3H8O
propyl alcohol isopropyl alcohol
The difference between these two compounds is the placement of the functional group. In Propyl Alcohol there is one radical and the functional group (OH) is attached at the end of that radical. In Isopropyl alcohol the functional group is situated between two (methyl) radicals
Both have the Molecular formula = C3H6O
As an ALDEHYDE or As a KETONE propanal ketone Propanal - C2H5CHO Dimethyl ketone - CH3COCH3 As you can see by the structural formulas, they are two very different compounds, yet they have the same molecular formula.
