Section 6 - Organic Chemistry P1 Flashcards
What are the different ways you can represent organic compounds?
- general formula
- empirical formula
- molecular formula
- displayed formula
- structural formula
What does a general formula show you?
an algebraic formula that can describe any member of a family of compounds
What does an empirical formula show you?
the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound (numbers cancelled down if possible)
What does a molecular formula show you?
The actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule
What does a displayed formula show you?
Shows how all the atoms are arranged and all the bonds between them
What does a structural formula show you?
Shows the arrangement of atoms carbon by carbon, with the attached hydrogens and functional groups
(ethene - CH₂CH₂)
What is a homologous series?
A homologous series is a group of compounds that can be represented by the same general formula
-molecules in the same homologous series contain the same functional group
What is the general formula for alkanes?
CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
What is a functional group?
A functional group is a group of atoms that determine how a compound typically reacts
-means compounds in a homologous series often react in similar ways
What is the functional group for alkenes?
a carbon carbon double bond
What is organic chemistry?
Chemistry involving molecules that contain carbon
What is nomenclature?
Naming organic compounds
What is the IUPAC system?
It is the system fornaming organic compounds, it was invented as an international language for chemistry
What determines the stem of the name of a carbon compound?
The number of carbons in a chain
What stem do you get for 1 carbon?
meth-
What stem do you get for 2 carbon?
eth-
What stem do you get for 3 carbon?
prop-
What stem do you get for 4 carbon?
but-
What stem do you get for 5 carbon?
pent-
What stem do you get for 6 carbon?
hex-
What tells you the prefix or suffix of the name of a carbon compound?
The main functional group of the molecule usually tells you what homologous series the molecule is in
What is the prefix/suffix of alkanes?
-ane
What is the prefix/suffix of alkenes?
-ene
How do you name compounds when there are more than one identical functional group?
1- (1) di- (2) tri- (3) tetra- (4) BEFORE THE SUFFIX
What are isomers?
Two molecules are isomers of each other if they have the same molecular formula but the atoms are arranged differently
-have different structural formula
What can make compounds isomers of each other?
- the carbons could be arranged differently
- the functional group could be attached to a different carbon atom
What comparisons are there of the properties of isomers?
Isomers have similar chemical properties
Isomers have different physical properties (because of the change in shape of the molecule)
What is crude oil?
Crude oil is a mixture of substances, most of which are hydrocarbons
What are hydrocarbons?
Hydrocarbons are molecules only made up of carbon and hydrogen
How are the different compounds in crude oil separated?
They are separated by fractional distillation
Describe the process of fractional distillation to separate out compounds in crude oil:
- the oil is heated (until most is turned into gas), and enters a fractionating column
- in the column there’s a temperature gradient (causing substances to be removed at different layers)
- end up with the crude oil mixture separated into different fractions
What is the first thing to be extracted from a fractionating column?
Bitumen (it is drained off as a liquid at the bottom)
What is the temperature gradient in a fractionating column?
-it is hottest at the bottom and gradually gets colder as you go up
How does the temperature gradient of the fractionating column separate different substances in crude oil?
When the substances that make up the crude oil reach a part of the column where the temperature is lower than their boiling point they condense and are drained out at the layer which they are liquid