Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A-Level Chemistry > Organic Chemistry Intro > Flashcards

Organic Chemistry Intro Flashcards

1
Q

state the general formula of alkanes

A

CnH2n+2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

state the general formula of alkenes

A

CnH2n

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

state the general formula of alcohols

A

CnH2n+1OH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

state the general formula of alkynes

A

CnH2n-2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

state the general formula of cyclic alkanes

A

CnH2n

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what is molecular formula? what is the molecular formula of ethane?

A
  • actual number of atoms in a molecule or element
  • ethane = C2H6
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is empirical formula? what is the empirical formula of ethane (C2H6)?

A
  • simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a compound
  • ethane (C2H6) = CH3
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is structural formula? what is the structural formula of butan-1-ol? (C4H9OH)

A
  • arrangement of atoms in a molecule without showing all the bonds
  • butan-1-ol (C4H9OH) = CH3CH2CH2CH2OH
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is skeletal formula?

A
  • shows the bonds of the carbon skeleton only
  • hydrogen and carbon atoms not shown but functional groups are
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is displayed formula?

A
  • shows the arrangement of atoms showing all the bonds and atoms in the molecule
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is a homologous series?

A
  • a group of compounds with the same functional group and general formula
  • successive members of the same homologous series increases by CH2
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the alkane homologous series? give an example.

A
  • ane, e.g. butane
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the branched alkane homologous series? give an example.

A

alkyl- -ane, e.g. methylpropane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the alkene homologous series? give an example.

A
  • ene, e.g. propene
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the alcohol homologous series? give an example.

A
  • ol, e.g. ethanol
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the aldehyde homologous series? give an example.

A

-al, e.g. propanal

17
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the ketone homologous series? give an example.

A

-one, e.g. propanone

18
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the carboxylic acid homologous series? give an example.

A
  • oic acid, e.g. butanoic acid
19
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the halogenoalkane homologous series? give an example.

A

fluoro-/chloro-/bromo-/iodo-
e.g. bromoethane

20
Q

what is the prefix/suffix of the cycloalkane homologous series? give an example.

A

cyclo- -ane, e.g. cyclopentane

21
Q

describe the process of naming molecules (nomenclature)

A

1) find length of stem by counting the longest continuous chain of carbons
2) make note of any alkyl groups + their prefix - if multiple write in alphabetical order
3) make note of functional group to use to find suffix/prefix
4) if more than one identical functional group or side chain present, put di/tri/tetra in front

22
Q

what is a chemical mechanism? how can they be represented?

A
  • shows the movement of an electron during a chemical reaction
  • curly arrows can be used to show the movement of a pair of electrons
  • they always start from the area donating the electrons and end at the area accepting the electron or to the formation of a new bond
23
Q

what are structural isomers?

A

same molecular formula but different structural formula

24
Q

state the 3 types of structural isomerism

A
  • chain
  • positional
  • functional
25
Q

what is chain isomerism?

A

same molecular formula, different arrangement of carbon skeleton

26
Q

what is positional isomerism?

A

same molecular formula, different position of the functional group on the carbon skeleton

27
Q

what is functional group isomerism?

A

same molecular formula, different functional group

28
Q

what are stereoisomers? how do they work?

A
  • same structural formula different arrangement of atoms in space
  • e.g. E-Z isomerism
  • a single bond can rotate but a double bond cannot
  • the c=c bond and the atoms bonded directly to this are flat (planar) so can’t rotate and are rigid
29
Q

when does E-Z isomerism occur? what does the E mean? what does the Z mean?

A
  • when there are 2 different atoms or groups of atoms on the same carbon
  • E: same groups opposite the double bond (diagonal or vertical)
  • Z: same groups on the same side of the double bond
30
Q

what are the Cahn - Ingold - Prelog (CIP) rules? when are they used?

A
  • used when deciding if an isomer is E or Z when there are 4 different groups around the double bond
    1) label carbons with double bond as carbon 1 and carbon 2
    2) calculate the atomic (proton) number of the first element directly bonded to carbon 1 C=C. the atom with the highest atomic number is given higher priority.
    3) repeat for carbon 2
    4) use high priority groups to determine if E or Z
    *may have to check further down the chain of priorities are the same

A-Level Chemistry (23 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions