Organic Chemistry - A level Flashcards
Define a hydrocarbon.
A hydrocarbon is a compound containing carbon and hydrogen only.
Define the phrase: functional group.
A functional group is an atom or group of atoms that determine the properties (physical and chemical) and characteristics of a compound.
What is a Homologous series and its characteristics, in 4 points?
A homologous series is a group of compounds with:
1. the same general formula
2. the same chemical properties
3. the same functional group
4. gradually changing physical properties from member to member
5. a difference between members of a -CH₂- unit
What is a Molecular Formula?
This is a formula showing the exact number of atoms in a compound.
What is an Empirical Formula?
An empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a compound.
What is a displayed formula?
A displayed formula is one that shows the spatial arrangement of compounds in space.
What is a skeletal formula?
A skeletal formula is a shorthand representation of the bonds in a compound.
It does not show a Carbon and its Hydrogens, showing only other paired atoms.
How many bonds can carbon form?
Carbon can form 4 bonds.
Each bond is represented by a line.
What is the reason why Carbon can make so many bonds?
Carbon is capable of making so many bonds because it forms stable, strong bonds.
What is the general formula for Alkanes?
The general formula for alkanes is:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
What is the functional group for Alkanes?
The functional group for alkanes is C-C
What is the general formula for Alkenes?
The general formula for alkenes is:
CₙH₂ₙ
What is the functional group for Alkenes?
The functional group for alkenes is:
C=C
What is the general formula for Halogenoalkanes?
The general formula for halogenoalkanes is:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₁X
The X is a halogen, eg. F, Cl, Br, I
What is the functional group for halogenoalkanes?
The functional group for halogenoalkanes is:
C-X
The chain of carbons can also be represented by R, making it R-X.
The X is a halogen, eg. F, Cl, Br, I
What is the general formula for Alcohols?
The general formula for Alcohols is CₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH
What is the functional group for Alcohols?
The functional group for alcohols is:
R-OH
Here, R, represents a string of carbons.
What is the general formula for Aldehydes?
The general formula for aldehydes is:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₁CHO
There is a double bond between C and O and a single bond between C and H. An aldehyde’s structure is different from that of a Carboxylic acid in the lack of an H connected to the O.
What is the functional group for the aldehyde homologous series?
The functional group for aldehydes is:
R-CHO
R represents a string of carbons of any number.
There is a double bond between C and O and a single bond between C and H. An aldehyde’s structure is different from that of a Carboxylic acid in the lack of an H connected to the O.
What is the general formula for Ketones?
The general formula for Ketones is:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₁COCₙH₂ₙ₊₁
C=O is a pi bond.
A ketone is merely a chain of carbons with a singular oxygen paired to a carbon in the middle of the chain. It cannot be at the end because in that case there would be a hydrogen paired to the last Carbon, making it an aldehyde.
What is the functional group for Ketones?
The functional group for Ketones is:
R-CO-R
C=O is a pi bond.
R represents a chain of carbons of any number.
A ketone is merely a chain of carbons with a singular oxygen paired to a carbon in the middle of the chain. It cannot be at the end because in that case there would be a hydrogen paired to the last Carbon, making it an aldehyde.
What is the functional group for Carboxylic Acids?
The functional group for Carboxylic Acids is:
R-COOH
R represents a string of carbons of any number.
There is a double bond between C and one O, and a single bond with the other O, wich connects to an H.
What is the general formula for Carboxylic Acids?
The general formula for Carboxylic Acids is:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₁COOH
There is a double bond between C and one O, and a single bond with the other O, wich connects to an H.
What is the general formula for Nitriles?
The general formula for Nitriles is:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₁CN
There is a triple bond between C and N.
What is the functional group for Nitriles?
The functional group for Nitriles is:
R-C≡N
R represents a string of carbons of any number.
What is the functional group for Amines?
The functional group for Amines is R-NH₂.
What is the general formula for Amines?
The general formula for Amines is:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₁NH₂
What is the general formula for the homologous group of Esters?
The general formula for the homologous group of Esters is:
CₙH₂ₙ₊₁COO
What is the functional group for the homologous group of Esters?
The functional group for the homologous group of Esters is: either
R-OCO-R
or
R-COO-R
There is a double bond between C and one O, and a single bond with the other O. The single bond O, connects to another Carbon.
What are the 2 sorts of Hydrocarbons?
The 2 types of Hydrocarbons are:
1. Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
2. Aromatic Hydrocarbons
What are Aliphatic hydrocarbons?
Aliphatic hydrocarbons are straight chained, cyclic, and branched compounds without a benzene ring.
What are Aromatic hydrocarbons?
These are hydrocarbons containing a benzene ring.
How do Aromatic hydrocarbons differ from Aliphatic hydrocarbons?
Aromatic hydrocarbons differ from Aliphatic hydrocarbons in that they contain a benzene ring.
What is a General Formula?
A General Formula is a formula that represents a homologus series of compounds using letters and numbers.
What is a saturated hydrocarbon?
A saturated hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon that contains only C-C single bonds.
An example of these is alkanes. As a result, Alkanes are inert, because the carbons within them each have their 4 bond possibilities fulfilled.
What are the two sources of Alkanes?
The two sources of Alkanes are:
1. Fractional distillation of crude oil
2. Hydrogenation of alkenes
Although alkanes are unreactive, they can participate in 3 reactions. What are these?
The 3 reactions alkanes can be involved in are:
1. burning in oxygen (combustion)
2. being broken down into smaller molecules through the process of cracking
3. reacting with halogens in free radical substitution reactions
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 1 carbons?
The prefix meth- is used when an organic compound has only 1 carbon.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 2 carbons?
The prefix eth- is used when an organic compound has only 2 carbons.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 3 carbons?
The prefix prop- is used when an organic compound has only 3 carbons.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 4 carbons?
he prefix but- is used when an organic compound has only 4 carbons.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 5 carbons?
The prefix pent- is used when an organic compound has only 5 carbons.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 6 carbons?
The prefix hex- is used when an organic compound has only 6 carbons.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 7 carbons?
The prefix hept- is used when an organic compound has only 7 carbons.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 8 carbons?
The prefix oct- is used when an organic compound has only 8 carbons.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 9 carbons?
The prefix non- is used when an organic compound has only 9 carbons.
What is the prefix used for an organic compound with only 10 carbons?
The prefix dec- is used when an organic compound has only 10 carbons.
Define an addition reaction.
An addition reaction is a reaction in which two or more molecules react to form one product.
What is Elimination?
Elimination is a reaction in which a small molecule is removed.
Define Substitution.
Substitution is a reaction in which an atom or group of atoms is replaced by another.
Remember OIL RIG
Explain what Oxidation is, in 3 separate points?
Oxidation is:
1. the addition of oxygen
2. loss of hydrogen
3. loss of electrons
It is loss of all else (i.e. Hydrogen and electrons) except Oxygen itself.
Remember OIL RIG
What is Reduction, explained in 3 separate points?
Reduction is:
1. the removal of oxygen
2. the addition of hydrogen
3. the gaining of electrons
It is the opposite of oxidation.
Explain the term: Free Radical Substitution
Free Radical Substitution is a reaction in which a radical replaces a hydgrogen from an alkane.
What are the names of the 3 steps of Free Radical Substitution?
- Step 1 is Initiation
- Step 2 is Propagation
- Step 3 is Termination
Define a radical.
A radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron.
What is Homolytic Fission?
Homolytic Fission is the breaking down of a covalent compound , such that each takes one electron.
This produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules with an unpaired electron, having had the other one taken. in this case unpaired refers to the lack of a partner in the orbital in which it resides.
Explain what happens in Step 1 of Free Radical Substitution: Initiation.
Step 1, initiation, involves the formation of radicals, through the process of homolytic fission.
This is Step 1 in Free Radical Substitution.
Homolytic Fission is the breaking down of a covalent compound , such that each takes one electron.
Explain what happens in Step 2 of Free Radical Substitution: Propagation.
In Step 2, which is propagation, a radical reacts with a neutral molecule to form another radical and a neutral molecule.
This is Step 2 in Free Radical Substitution.
Explain what happens in Step 3 of Free Radical Substitution: Termination.
Termination, step 3 of Free Radical Substitution, is when two radicals combine to form one neutral molecule.
Define Heterolytic fission.
Heterolytic fission is when a molecule breaks up and one molecule takes both electrons.
This is due to the molecule being more electronegative than its counterpart.
The reaction is shown using a curly arrow, illustrating the forcible taking of electrons.
Describe what a Nucleophile is.
A Nucleophile is a species that contains a lone pair of electrons which it can donate.
Lone pairs of electrons are merely those that are not involved in a covalent bond.
As a result, it attracts lone nuclei, like H+, making it a nucleus loving molecule, hence, nucleophile.
Lone pairs of electrons are merely those that are not involved in covalent bonding.
A molecule may still have 8 outer shell electrons and still have lone pairs of electrons.
What is an Electrophile?
An electrophile is a species that can accept a lone pair of electrons.
What is a condensation reaction?
A condensation reaction is a reaction in which 2 or more substances combine, and a small molecule is removed.
Unlike elimination, it involves at least 2 reactants.
What are the 2 types of Isomerism?
The two types of isomerism are:
1. Structural Isomerism
2. Stereoisomerism
What are the 3 types of Structural Isomerism?
The three types of structural isomerism are:
1. Position isomerism
2. Functional Group Isomerism
3. Chain Isomerism
What are the two divisions of Stereoisomerism?
The two divisions of Stereoisomerism are:
1. Geometric Isomerism
2. Optical Isomerism
Geometric is further split into two parts; Cis and Trans.
What is an unsaturated hydrocarbon?
An unsaturated compound is a hydrocarbon with a C=C double bond.
Briefly explain Functional group structural isomerism.
Functional Group Structural isomerism occurs when two organic compounds have the same numbers of atoms but different functional groups.
An example being butanol, CH₃CH₂CH₃CHO and butanone, CH₃COCH₂CH₃
Briefly explain Position Structural Isomerism.
Position Structural Isomerism occurs when organic compounds have the same molecular formula, but different positons of the functional group.
e.g. 1-bromobutane and 2-bromobutane
Briefly explain Chain Structural Isomerism.
Chain Structural Isomerism occurs when organic compounds have the same molecular formula but differ in the longest chain in the compound.
What is Stereoisomerism?
Stereoisomerism occurs when compounds have the same molecular formula but different orientations in space
This occurs on a more 3 dimensional level.
What are the conditions required for a compound to have a Geometric Stereoisomer?
For a compound to have a Geometric Stereoisomer, it must:
1. Have a double bond
2. Have each C connected to 2 differect groups or atoms
Geometric Isomerism is split into Cis and Trans geometrical isomerism. Define each.
Cis Geometrical Isomerism, occurs when two similar groups, are on the same side of the double bond {both above or both below}.
Trans Geometric isomerism occurs when two similar groups, or effectual groups are on either side of the double bond {that is above as well as below}
What is a chiral carbon?
This is a carbon, in geometric isomerism, that is bonded to 4 different atoms or groups.
It is labellled with an asterisk.
It cannot have a double bond, otherwise the connected groups will only be 3.
Why does Geometric Isomerism occur in alkenes?
Geometric Isomerism occurs in alkenes due to restricted rotation in alkenes as a result of the double bonds
As compared to the free rotation of Alkanes, which cannot experience Geometric Isomerism.
