Organic chemistry definitions Flashcards
Learn the basic vocabulary such as saturated, unsaturated, covalent bond, double bond, alkanes and alkenes
What is a hydrocarbon?
A hydrocarbon is a COMPOUND containing the elements HYDROGEN and CARBON ONLY!
What is a covalent bond?
A bond formed between two NON-METAL atoms, involving a SHARED PAIR of ELECTRONS.
(Think of oxygen, Carbon dioxide, all the hydrocarbons–look at the non-metals on the Periodic Table)
What is a double bond?
A COVALENT bond in which TWO PAIRS of electrons are SHARED by TWO bonded ATOMS. (Think of the C=C bond in Alkenes)
What is an Alkane?
Alkanes are SATURATED hydrocarbons. They are a HOMOLOGOUS group. They have a single C-C bond. They contain Hydrogen and Carbon only.
(Think MethANE etc.. and Monkeys Eat Peeled Bananas!)
What does saturated mean (in Chemistry)?
A SATURATED molecule is a molecule in which ALL the ATOMS are joined by SINGLE COVALENT bonds. (Think of the Alkanes and C-C bonds)
What does unsaturated mean?
A molecule containing at least one DOUBLE BOND between CARBON atoms. (Think of the Alkenes and the C=C bond)
What does the molecular formular mean?
The formula stating the number of atoms of each element in a molecule. H2O, HCl, O2 etc
What is the displayed formular?
A diagram showing all the covalent bonds.
H
H- C - H or O=O
H
What is an alkene?
Alkenes are a family (homologous series) of UNSATURATED HYDROCARBONS.
They have a double C=C bond which can open up to form POLYMERS. (Think of PropENE forming POLYpropene–plastic)
What is the test for an alkene?
Add an alkene to BROMINE WATER (orange) and it turns COLOURLESS. (The UNsaturated C=C bond opens and attaches to Bromine ions, turning Bromine water colourless)
What is the Bromine Water test for?
Alkenes or UNSATURATED HYDROCARBONS. (Bromine water turns from ORANGE to COLOURLESS.)
What is the test for a double C=C bond?
Bromine Water. (The UNsaturated C=C bond opens and attaches to Bromine ions, turning Bromine water colourless)
What are Isomers?
Isomers are COMPOUNDS with the SAME MOLECULAR formular but different DISPLAY formular. (Think of Butene C4H8. The structure can be different with the C=C in a different place)
