Organic Key phrases/terms Flashcards
What’s empirical formula?
The simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a compound
What’s molecular formula?
The actual whole number ratio of atoms in a compound
What’s general formula? What’s the general formula for alkanes and alkenes?
The formula to show the number of each atoms in a homologous series.
Alkanes CnH2n+2
Alkenes CnH2n
What’s structural formula?
A formula that shows the connectivity in an organic molecule without showing bonds (eg ethane is CH3CH3)
What’s displayed formula?
A formula that shows all the bonds in an organic molecule
What’s skeletal formula?
Shows all the bonds in a compound where all the vertices are carbon with their full compliment of hydrogens (a single line is still a covalent bond).
What’s a homologous series?
A group of compounds with the exact same functional groups and the same general formula.
What are the general rules for naming carbon chains using IUPAC nomenclature?
Homologous series - What do they have in common?
They show a gradual change in physical properties (e.g. boiling point).
Each member differs by CH2 from the last.
same chemical properties.
What’s the infix of a carbon chain with 1 carbon?
Meth
What’s the infix of a carbon chain with 2 carbon?
Eth
What’s the infix of a carbon chain with 3 carbon?
Prop
What’s the infix of a carbon chain with 4 carbon?
But
What’s the infix of a carbon chain with 5 carbon?
Pent
What’s the infix of a carbon chain with 6 carbon?
Hex
What are the basic rules for naming functional groups?
How do you name amines?
How do you name nitriles?
How do you name esters?
How do you name acid anhydrides?
How do you name acyl chlorides?
How do you name amides?
How do you name aromatic compounds?
Define Structural isomerism
Compounds have the same molecular formula but a different structure
Define functional group isomer
Compound with the same molecular formula but a different functional group
Define position isomer
Compound with the same molecular formula but a different position of the functional group
Define chain isomer
Compound with the same molecular formula but a different length longest carbon chain
Define stereoisomer
Compound with the same structural formula but a different arrangement
Define geometric isomer
Compound with the same structural formula but a different arrangement around a non-rotational carbon-carbon double bond
Define optical isomer
A compound with the same structural formula but a different arrangement around a chiral carbon (or with a different non- superimposable image)
What are the CIP rules?
The Cahn-Ingold-Prelog priority rules are:
What causes E/Z isomerism?
What does saturated and unsaturated mean?
A saturated organic compound has all single bonds,
Unsaturated organic compounds have at least one double bond
Define hydrocarbon
A compound made of carbon and hydrogen only.
Define petroleum
Petroleum is a mixture consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons that can be separated by fractional distillation.
How does fractional distillation work?
Separates different fractions based on their boiling points. The longer carbon chain fractions have stronger van der Waal’s forces between molecules so will condense lower down the fractionating column due to the temperature gradient in the fractionating column (from hotter to colder).
What are the trends in viscosity, volatility and flammability of the alkane homologous series? Why?
Viscosity/volatility increases with chain length as the molecules increase in size there is stronger van der Waal’s forces between molecules.
Flammability decreases with carbon chain length as there are fewer of the molecules evaporated in the air nearby, making vapours harder to react.
What is cracking? Why is cracking done?
Breaking the C-C bonds in alkanes to make smaller chain alkanes from longer chain alkanes.
It’s done to turn lower in demand hydrocarbons into more in demand hydrocarbons.
What’s thermal cracking? What are the conditions? Why is it used?
Thermal cracking takes place at high pressure and high temperature and produces a high percentage of alkenes
What’s catalytic cracking? What are the conditions? Why is it used?
Catalytic cracking takes place at a slight pressure, high temperature and in the presence of a zeolite catalyst and is used mainly to produce motor fuels and aromatic hydrocarbons.
What are the two types of combustion and why do both occur? What are the common products of each case when combusting hydrocarbons?
Complete combustion - when oxygen is in excess, products are CO2 and H2O
Incomplete combustion - when oxygen isn’t in excess, products can be CO or C and H2O.
What pollutants are produced from the internal combustion engine. What problems can they cause?
NOx, - toxic
CO, - toxic, can bind to hamoglobin more strongly,
carbon - can cause respiratory hazards
unburned hydrocarbons, - methane is a greenhouse gas
SO2 if sulfur impurities present, can produce acid rain (H2SO3) if they react with H2O
H2O - green house gas,
CO2 - green house gas
How can NOx, CO, carbon and unburned hydrocarbons be removed?
Using a platinum catalytic converter that removes the impurities
How can sulfur dioxide be removed from flue gases?
By using calcium oxide/carbonate
When is the reaction nucleophilic substitution or elimination?
OH- must be the reacting chemical,
If it’s OH- in the reaction, then hot alcoholic conditions are needed to cause OH- to act as a base in an elimination mechanism.
If it’s warm and aqueous conditions then OH- acts as a nucleophile
What is ozone? Why is it important for life on Earth?
O3,
Ozone, formed naturally in the upper atmosphere, is beneficial because it absorbs ultraviolet radiation.
What are CFCs? What do CFCs do to ozone?
Chlorine atoms are formed in the upper atmosphere when ultraviolet radiation causes C–Cl bonds in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to break.
Chlorine atoms catalyse the decomposition of ozone and contribute to the hole in the ozone layer.
What are the equations to show the propagation step of the degradation of ozone?
Cl* + O3 → ClO* + O2
ClO* + O3 → 2O2 + Cl*
- should be a dot
Why do we no longer use CFCs? What do we use instead?
Different groups in the scientific community provided evidence for legislation to ban the use of CFCs as solvents and refrigerants. Chemists have now developed alternative chlorine-free compounds.
What’s the key feature of an alkene?
a C=C bond
What’s the chemical test and observation for alkenes?
Add bromine water,
Observation is orange to colourless
What causes major and minor products when reacting alkenes? Why?
Tertiary carbocations are more stable than secondary carbocations.
Secondary carbocations are more stable than primary carbocations.
This is due to the positive inductive effect, when electron density is pushed onto the C+ from the alkyl chains surrounding it. More alkyl chains means a more stable carbocation.
What’s an addition polymer? How are they formed?
Addition polymers are alkene monomers all joined together breaking a double bond in each to create a poly(alkene).
What’s a monomer?
A compound that will become part of a polymer.
What’s a polymer?
A large molecule joined up of monomers
Using propene as an example what should the equation for the formation of a poly(alkene) look like?
What’s a repeating unit look like?
Show the trailing bonds on the outside of monomers and at least one of all monomers involved.
What’s the structure of poly(chloroethene)? What’s it used for? How can its properties be modified?
Poly(chloroethene) is a polymer that is water proof, an electrical insulator and doesn’t react with acids. In its pure form it is a rigid plastic due to the strong intermolecular bonding between polymer chains prevents them moving over each other. In this un-plasticised form it is used make uPVC window frame coverings and guttering. If a plasticiser is added the intermolecular forces are weakened which allows the chains to move more easily, resulting in more flexibility in the polymer. In this form PVC is used to make insulation on electrical wires, and waterproof clothing.
What’s a plasticiser?
A plasticiser is a compound that sits between polymer chains, increasing the distance between them. This causes the intermolecular forces between the molecules to weaken, making the compound more flexible.
Why are aren’t poly(alkenes) biodegradable?
They’re long polymer chains with many strong non-polar C-C bonds.
How can alcohols be produced?
Alcohols are produced industrially by hydration of alkenes in the presence of an acid catalyst.
Ethanol is produced industrially by fermentation of glucose. The conditions for this process
What happens in the hydration of alkenes? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
What happens in fermentation? What are the advantages and disadvantages?