Organic Chemistry Introduction Flashcards
What are hydrocarbons?
Organic compounds containing hydrogen and carbon only
What are aliphatic hydrocarbons?
Hydrocarbons with carbon atoms joined in straight or branched chains
What are alicyclic hydrocarbons?
Hydrocarbons with carbon atoms joined in a ring structure
What are aromatic hydrocarbons?
Hydrocarbons with at least 1 benzene ring in the structure
What is a functional group?
A group of atoms which is responsible for the characteristic reactions of a compound
What is homolytic fission?
When a bond breaks and each electron goes to a different atom in the bond resulting in free radicals
Eg homolytic fission of bromine
Br—Br ——> 2 •Br
What is heterolytic fission?
When a bond breaks and both the electrons goes to the same atom resulting in ions
How are bonds formed?
Upon the collision of 2 free radicals or oppositely charged ions
What are isomers?
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different arrangement of atoms
What are structural isomers?
Same molecular formula but the structural formulas are different
What is a chain isomer?
Same molecular formula and functional group but the arrangement of carbon atoms in the chain is different
What is a positional isomer?
Same molecular formula and functional group but the position of the functional group is different
What are functional group isomers?
Same molecular formula but the functional group is different
What are geometric isomers?
Same structural formula but the bonds are arranged differently in space
(Often occurs with a C=C double bond)
Produces E/Z isomerism
What is E/Z isomerism?
If the 2 atoms with the greatest atom numbers appear on the same side of the double bond it is a Z isomer. If they are in opposite sides then it is an E isomer.
