Topic 10: Organic Chemistry Flashcards
Define catenation.
Process by which many identical atoms are joined together by covalent bonds, producing straight-chain, branched or cyclic structures.
Define a homologous series.
Series of compounds that can be grouped together based on similarities in their structure and reactions. Has the same general formula which varies from one member to another by one CH2
(methylene) group
The boiling point increases with an increasing number of carbon atoms due to the increasingly strong intermolecular forces (London forces).
Have similar chemical properties due to the presence of the same functional group.
What are alkanes?
Hydrocarbons, contain carbon and hydrogen only.
C(n)H(2n + 2)
What are alkenes?
Hydrocarbon with a carbon-carbon double bond.
What are alkynes?
Hydrocarbon with a carbon-carbon triple bond.
What are functional groups?
The functional groups are the reactive parts of the molecules and commonly contain elements such as oxygen and nitrogen
CH4
methane
C2H6
ethane
C3H8
protane
C4H10
butane
C5H12
pentane
C6H14
hexane
General formula for alcohols
C(n)H(2n+1)OH
General formula for aldehydes
C(n)H(2n)O
General formula for ketones
C(n)H(2n)O
What is crude oil?
Mixture of hydrocarbons that vary in the length of their carbon chain.
Combination of alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons.
What is fractional distillation?
Physical separation process that uses differences in boiling points to separate the mixture into fractions of similar boiling point.
-CH3
methyl
-CH2CH3
ethyl
-CH2CH2CH3
propyl
-CH2CH2CH2CH3
butyl
What is a saturated hydrocarbon?
Compound with all carbon-carbon single bonds.
What is a unsaturated hydrocarbon?
Compound containing double and/or triple carbon-carbon bonds.
What is an aliphatic compound?
Straight-chain compound.