Organic Intro Flashcards
Why is carbon unique?
- Catenation
- Ability to form strong single and multiple bonds between its atoms
- Has a valency of 4 and can form 4 strong covalent bonds
What are aliphatic compounds?
Organic compounds with open chains of carbon atoms
What are aromatic compounds?
Organic compounds with at least a benzene ring in their structure
What are alicyclic compounds?
Organic compounds with closed rings of carbon atoms
What are heterocyclic compounds?
Organic compounds with a closed ring of carbon atoms and one or more atoms of other elements
What is a functional group?
An atom, group of atoms or bonds common to a series of organic compounds which determines the chemical properties of that series
What is a homologous series?
A group of organic compounds having the same functional group, same general formula, similar chemical properties and consecutive members differ from each other by a methylene group (-CH2-)
What are the characteristics of a homologous series?
- All members have the same general formula
- All members have the same functional group
- All members have similar characteristics
- Successive homologues differ from each other by a methylene group
- Their physical properties gradually change with increasing molecular mass
- They have similar methods of preparation
Define isomerism
This is the existence of two or more different compounds, having the same molecular formula, but with different structural formulae
What are isomers?
These are different compounds, having the same molecular formula, but different structural formulae
What are the types of isomerism?
- Structural isomerism
- this is the type of isomerism in which different compounds have the same molecular formula, but different structural formula, due to the different ways in which the atoms are bonded in the molecule
It is further subdivided into chain isomerism, position isomerism and functional group isomerism
Chain isomerism
- this is a type of isomerism in which different compounds have the same molecular formula, same functional group, but different carbon skeletons
Position isomerism
- this is the type of isomerism in which different compounds have the same molecular formula, same functional group, and the same carbon skeleton, but the fire in the position of the functional group
Functional group isomerism
- this is the type in which different compounds have the same molecular formula, but different structural formula and functional groups
- Stereo isomerism
- this is the type of isomers, in which different compounds have the same molecular formula, same functional group, but differ in their structures, due to the different ways in which the bonds are arranged
This is further subdivided into geometric and optical isomerism
Geometric isomerism
The compounds have the same molecular formula but different arrangement of atoms or groups around the carbon to carbon double bond
Optical isomerism
These have the same molecular formula same bonding arrangement, but they rotate plane polarized light in opposite directions. That is to say one is a mirror image of another.
What are the reactions organic compounds?
Substitution or displacement reactions:
These are reactions that involve the direct replacement of an atom or group of atoms by another atom or group of atoms
Elimination reaction:
These are reactions that involve the removal of atoms or groups of atoms from two adjacent atoms to form multiple bonds
Addition reaction:
These are reactions that occur when an attacking species adds itself across an unsaturated bond to yield a saturated product or a product in which the degree of unsaturation has been reduced
Rearrangement reactions:
These are reactions involving the migration of an atom a group of atoms from one part of the same molecule to another
Chain reactions:
These are reactions which proceed in several steps, whereby each step produces a reactive substance which initiates the next step until the final product is formed
What is a reaction mechanism?
This refers to the sequence of steps by which the reaction takes place
Define homolytic cleavage(bond fission)
This is when bonds break, and each bonding atom takes an equal share of the bonding electrons that make up a covalent bond resulting into formation of free radicals
It happens when there is negligible or no difference in the electronegativity of the two bonded atoms
Define heterolygic cleavage (bond fission)
This is a type of bond fission that results into unequal sharing of the bonding electrons due to the difference in electronegativity of the two bonded atoms
The most electronegative takes the two bonding electrons forming an anion while the less electronegative becomes positively charged
