Organic Chemistry/ Stephen Childs Flashcards
What is a functional group?
Groups of atoms within a molecule that determine the chemical reactivity and properties of the molecule.
Can you name three functional groups?
Acidic, basic and neutral.
What are examples of acidic functional groups?
Carboxyl acid(R-COOH) and Phenols(Ar-OH).
What is carboxyl acid?
The -COOH group is acidic due to the presence of the carboxyl group (-COOH) which can donate a proton (H+) to a base, resulting in the formation of a carboxylate anion (R-COO-).
What is a phenol?
Phenols are aromatic compounds that contain a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to an aromatic ring. The phenolic -OH group can exhibit acidic behavior and donate a proton (H+) to a base, resulting in the formation of a phenoxide anion (Ar-O-).
What are examples of basic functional groups?
Amines (R-NH2) and Guanidines (R2C(NH)2)
What are amines?
Amines are organic compounds that contain a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more alkyl or aryl groups.
Amines can exhibit basic behavior and accept a proton (H+) from an acid, resulting in the formation of an ammonium cation (R-NH3+).
What are guanidines?
Guanidines are compounds that contain a guanidine functional group, which consists of three amino groups (-NH2) attached to a central carbon atom.
Guanidines are strong bases and can accept protons (H+) to form guanidinium cations (R2C(NH)3+).
What are examples of neutral functional groups?
Alcohols (R-OH) and Ethers (R-O-R’)
What is the alcohols function?
Alcohols contain a hydroxyl group (-OH) and are typically considered neutral in terms of acidity or basicity.
They do not readily donate or accept protons, and their acidity or basicity is generally weak compared to carboxylic acids, phenols, amines, or guanidines.
What is the ethers function?
Ethers are organic compounds that contain an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups.
Ethers are typically considered neutral in terms of acidity or basicity, as they do not readily donate or accept protons.
