Organic Chemistry - definitions Flashcards
Bioalcohol
Fuels made from plant matter, often using enzymes or bacteria
Biodegradable
A polymer that can be broken down by microbes
Biodiesel
A fuel made from vegetable oils obtained from plants
Biofuel
Fuels obtained from living matter that has died recently
Carbocation
A positive ion in which the charge is shown on the carbon atom
Cracking
The breakdown of molecules into shorter ones by heating with a catalyst
Dehydration
The removal of the hydroxyl group in an alcohol molecule, together with a hydrogen atom from an adjacent carbon atom, forming a C=C bond
Diol
A compound containing 2 OH groups
Dipole
2 charges of equal magnitude but opposite signs are separated by a short distance
Displayed formula
Shows each bonding pair as a line drawn between the 2 atoms involved
Distillation with addition
Involves heating a reaction mixture, but adding another liquid and distilling off the product as it forms
Electrophile
An electron-deficient species attracted to a region of high electron density
Electrophilic addition
A reaction in which 2 molecules form one molecule and the attacking molecule is an electrophile
Elimination
A reaction in which a molecule loses atoms attached to adjacent carbon atoms, forming a C=C double bond
Ethanolic
A solution where ethanol is the solvent
Feedstock
Converting polymer waste into chemicals that can be used to make new polymers
Fractional distillation
The process used to separate a liquid mixture into fractions by boiling and condensing
Functional group
An atom or group of atoms in a molecule that is responsible for its chemical reactions
Geometric isomers
Compounds containing a C=C bond with atoms or groups of atoms attached at different positions
Halogenation
The addition of a halogen
Reflux
Heating a reaction mixture with a condenser fitted vertically, continuous evaporation and condensation
Heterolytic fission
The breaking of a covalent bond so that both bonding electrons are taken by one atom
Homolytic fission
The breaking of a covalent bond where each of the bonding electrons leaves with one species, forming a radical
Hydration
The addition of water (steam)
Hydrocarbon
A compound that contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms
Hydrogenation
The addition of hydrogen
Hydrolysis
A reaction in which water hydroxide ions replace an atom in a molecule with an -OH group
Incomplete combustion
Some atoms in the fuel are not fully oxidised
Complete combustion
All the atoms in the fuel are completely oxidised
Initiation
The formation of radicals, usually as a result of bond breaking by ultraviolet radiation
Locant
A number used to indicate which carbon atom in the chain an atom or group of atoms is attached to
Mechanism
The sequence of steps in an overall reaction. Each step shows what happens to the electrons involved in bind breaking or bond formation
Nucleophile
An electron rich species that donates a lone pair of electrons to form a covalent bond with and electron-deficient atom
Nucleophilic Substitution
A reaction in which an attacking nucleophile replaces an existing atom or group in a molecule
Propagation
The two steps that, when repeated many times, convert the starting materials into the products of the reaction
Radical
A highly reactive species that contains unpaired electrons
Reforming
The conversion of straight-chain hydrocarbons into branched-chain and cyclic hydrocarbons
Restricted rotation
Fixes the position of the atoms or groups attached to C=C atoms around a C=C bond in a set space
Saturated
A compound containing only single bonds
Simple distillation
Used to separate liquids with very different boiling temperatures
Skeletal formula
Shows all the bonds between carbon atoms
Stereoisomers
Compounds with the same structural formula and the same molecular formula but with the atoms or groups arranged differently in 3D dimensions
Structural formula
Shows how atoms are joined together carbon-by-carbon
Structural isomers
Compounds with the same molecular formula but with different structural formulae
Substitution reaction
A reaction where an atom or group is replaced by another atom or group
Termination
The formation of a molecule from two radicals
Unsaturated
A compound containing one or more multiple bonds
Aliphatic
An organic compound that consists of carbon chains. These may be straight chains or cyclical. All electrons are fixed in covalent bonds.
Aromatic
An organic compound that contains a ring structure with delocalised electrons
Homologous series
A series of organic molecules that have the same general formula (functional group) that differ in successive members by CH2
Isomer
Organic compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formula (atoms are arranged in a different way)
