Organic Chemistry Terms Flashcards
Addition reaction
A type of reaction in which atoms, or groups of atoms, are added to a molecule.
Alcohol
An organic compound in which the hydroxyl functional group (-OH) is bonded to a carbon atom.
Alkane
An homologous series characterised by having single covalent bonds between carbon atoms.
Alkene
A hydrocarbon molecule having one or more double covalent bonds between carbon atoms.
Alkylammonium ion
The positively charged ion formed when an amine binds the hydrogen ion (H+) released from an acid.
Alkyne
A hydrocarbon molecule having one or more triple covalent bonds between carbon atoms.
Carboxylic acid
An organic molecule that has the -COOH functional group.
Cracking
A chemical process in which longer hydrocarbon molecules are broken down (cracked) into smaller molecules.
Cracking
A chemical process in which longer hydrocarbon molecules are broken down (cracked) into smaller molecules.
Diol
An organic compound in which two hydroxyl functional groups are bonded to carbon atoms.
Elimination reaction
A type of reaction in which atoms, or groups of atoms, are removed (eliminated) from a molecule.
Functional group
A group of atoms or type of bond responsible for the characteristic properties of a compound.
Geometric isomer
Isomers of an alkene where atoms or groups of atoms are attached in different spatial arrangements on either side of a double bond.
Haloalkane
An homologous series characterised by having single covalent bonds between carbon atoms and one or more halogen atoms bonded to a carbon atom.
Halogenation
The process of adding halogen atoms to a molecule.
Homologous series
A series of organic compounds with a similar general formula, possessing similar chemical properties and having the same functional group.
Hydrocarbon
A compound that contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Markovnikov’s rule
Often simplified to “the rich get richer”. When a hydrogen atom has two carbon atoms available to bond to, it will bond more often to the carbon with the most hydrogen atoms aready bonded to it.
Monomer
The term for the smaller molecules from which polymers are made.
Neutralisation reaction
A chemical reaction between an acid and any of a range of substances that accept protons from the acid.
Polymer
A long molecule made by linking many smaller molecules together in a repeating pattern.
Primary amine
An amine with only one organic branch from the nitrogen atom. Two hydrogen atoms will also be bonded to the nitrogen atom.
Reaction scheme
A graphical representation of the reactants and products in a chemical reaction.
Generally, structural formulae are used.
Saturated hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon molecule containing only single covalent bonds. No further atoms can be added to the compound.
Structural isomer
Molecules having the same molecular formula but with atoms bonded in different positions
Substitution reaction
A type of reaction in which atoms are removed from a molecule and replaced with another type of atom.
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon molecule containing double or triple covalent bonds. Further atoms can be added to the compound at the site of the multiple bond.
