Organics Flashcards
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
What is the empirical formula?
The simplest whole number ratio of the elements present in a compound.
What is the molecular formula?
The total number of atoms of each element present in a molecule of the compound. A molecular formula is an integer multiple of the empirical formula.
What are the names of the alkanes in increasing carbon atoms?
Methane Ethane Propane Butane Propane Butane Pentane Hexane
What is a homologous series?
A homologous series is a series of compounds that have the same functional group. Each member differs from the next by a common structural unit.
What is a functional group?
A functional group is the atom or group of atoms in a molecule that gives it its characteristic chemical properties - this is the reactive part of the molecules.
What is the formula of alkanes?
C n H 2n+2
What is the formula of alkene?
C n H 2n
What is the alkene functional group?
C=C
What is the alkynes functional group?
C-=C (triple bond)
What is the alcohol functional group?
OH
What is the ether functional group?
C-O-C
What is the aldehyde functional group?
O
C
- - H
What is the ketone functional group?
O
C
- C - C
What is the carboxylic acid functional group?
COOH
What is the amine functional group?
NH2
What is the ester functional group?
C-O-C=O
-
What is the nitrile functional group?
C-=N (triple bond)
What is the amide functional group?
O=C-NH2.
What are compounds with a benzene ring called?
Aromatic
What are compounds without a benzene ring called?
Aliphatic
What does aromatic mean?
With a benzene ring
What does aliphatic mean?
Compounds without a benzene ring.
What happens to the boiling point of carbon compounds as carbon length increases?
As the number of carbon atoms in a molecule in any homologous series increases, the boiling point increases. The boiling point of straight-chain alkanes increases when a methylene -CH2 group is added, because the strength of the London forces increases as the number of electrons in the molecule does.
Which has higher boiling points alkanes or alcohols?
Alcohols because of hydrogen bonding between molecules that is not present in alkanes.
Which has a higher boiling point alcohols or esters?
Alcohols because they can form hydrogen bonds. Esters have no hydrogens bonded to oxygen and therefore can not make hydrogen bonds.
How does solubility increase or decrease with alcohol’s carbon length?
The longer the chain the less soluble because the only soluble bit is the OH on the end and as the chain gets longer that gets less in proportion.
How do you name alkanes?
- Find the longest continuous chain in the molecule, this determines the prefix to the homologous end name (e.g. ane)
- Look for substituent groups (alkyl groups). Then label the carbons they are on to give the lowest individual numbers (e.g. if it is butane, say it is on carbon 2 instead of 3 because that is lower).
- Choose a prefix to label how many there are of these substituent groups.
How do you name alkenes?
Same as alkanes but the number in the middle
pen -2- ene indicates the position of the double bond.
How do you name halogenoalkanes?
The same as alkanes but put the position of the halogen, then the halogen name and then the alkane.
How do you name alcohols?
Same as alkanes except like alkenes but the position of the OH in the middle of the word:
ethan-2-ol.
How do you name ethers?
The shorter molecule and the oxygen are called an oxy group, and so if it was 1 carbon and an oxygen it would be methoxy and then the longer one so for example
1- methoxypropane. The 1 is saying that the oxygen and smaller group are on the first of the carbons of the big one.
How do you name ketones?
propan-2-one, saying the C=O (with 2 more carbons either side of the carbon) which is the functional group is on the second carbon.
How do you name aldehydes?
-al
propanal
pentan-2-al to show that the HC=O is on the second carbon.
How do you name carboxylic acids?
Ethanoic acid
How do you form an ester?
Esters are formed by a reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. COOC.
The acid is the second bit of the name, the alcohol is the first.
What are the uses of esters?
- Artificial flavours and odours.
- Plasticisers
What is the difference between primary secondary and tertiary alcohols?
They all have different numbers of carbons connected to the carbon which holds the OH group.
If the carbon that holds the OH group is at the end of the chain molecule and is only attached to one carbon then it is primary.
If it is in the middle and that carbon is attached to two others then it is secondary. And if it is attached to three then it is tertiary.
What is the difference between primary secondary and tertiary amines?
This is slightly different to alcohols, it depends how many alkyl groups are attached to the N, so a primary amine has C-NH2 a secondary amine has C-NH-C A tertiary amine has C-NC-C
What is a structural isomer?
Structural isomers are two or more compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas - the atoms are joined together in different ways.
So for example
butane and 2-methylpropane
in 2-methyl propane the end CH3 has just gone above the second carbon. They have the same number of atoms just different ways of putting them together.
How do isomers compare boiling point wise?
In general, branched chain isomers have lower boiling points than straight chain isomers. This is because the branches prevent the main chains from getting as close together and so the London forces between the branched molecules are weaker.
What are functional group isomers?
Isomers that have the same formula but different functional groups.
for example ethanol and methoxymethane (ether)
What is the evidence for the structure of benzene?
The structure has alternating single and double bonds between the carbons. Each carbon is connected to a hydrogen and the rest of the electrons form a delocalised system of six electrons. The ring of electrons is formed when p orbitals overlap side on and form a pi bond.
- Evidence from carbon carbon bond lengths, all C-C bond lengths are equal in benzene and also intermediate in length between a C-C and a C=C bond. If the structure of benzene was double bond single bond then the bond length would vary significantly.
- Adding hydrogen to benezene is not three times the enthalpy change of adding hydrogen to C6H10 which is what it would be expected to be if it had three double bonds, it is instead half way between the two.
- Comes from examining the isomers of C6H4Cl2, there are only 3 isomers we can find, and if there was a double bond single bond then there would be four.
- Also if it was double bond single bond then it would be expected to undergo addition reactions and to colourise bromine, however it does not. Benzene undergoes substitution instead.
What are the disadvantages of benzene?
Benzene is recognised as a human carcinogen which can cause leukaemia. The main source of exposure to benzene in Europe is car exhaust fumes.
What is the structure of benzene?
The structure has alternating single and double bonds between the carbons. Each carbon is connected to a hydrogen and the rest of the electrons form a delocalised system of six electrons. The ring of electrons is formed when p orbitals overlap side on and form a pi bond.
What are the boiling points of alkanes like?
Alkanes only have london forces and therefore they are volatile and evaporate easily, they are also non-polar so do not dissolve in water.
Are alkane soluble?
they are also non-polar so do not dissolve in water.
How do alkanes react with oxygen?
Alkanes react with oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide. They are used as the basis of fuels such as petrol.
When there is a lack of oxygen they undergo incomplete combustion and produce carbon monoxide and water.
What are alkanes used for?
Alkanes react with oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide. They are used as the basis of fuels such as petrol.
How reactive are alkanes?
Not very reactive because the C-C bonds are very strong, the C-H bonds are very strong and they are also non-polar and so are unlikely to attract polar ions or molecules.