Topic 6 - Organic Chemistry 1 Flashcards
What is a general formula?
An algebraic formula that can describe any member of a family of compounds
What is an empirical formula?
The simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound
What is a molecular formula?
The actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule
What is structural formula?
Shows the arrangement of atoms carbon by carbon with the attached hydrogens and functional groups
What is skeletal formula?
Shows the bonds of the carbon skeleton only, with any functional groups.
What is displayed formula?
Shows how all the atoms are arranged, and all the bonds between them
What is a homologous series?
A group of compounds that have the same functional group and general formula, and differ by CH2
What is an addition reaction?
Joining two or more molecules together to form a larger molecule
What is a polymerisation reaction?
Joining together lots of simple molecules to form a giant molecule
What is an elimination reaction?
When a small group of atoms breaks away from a larger molecule
What is a substitution reaction?
When a species is replaced by another
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
Splitting a molecule into two new molecules by adding H+ and OH- derived from water
What are mechanisms?
Diagrams that break reactions down into individual stages. (Some mechanisms use curly arrows to show how electrons pairs move around when bonds are made or broken.)
What is a nucleophile?
An electron pair donor (often a negatively charge ion or species that contains a line pair of electrons, they’re electron rich, so they’re attracted to places that are electron poor)
What is an electrophile?
An electron pair acceptor (they’re electron poor, so they’re attracted to places that are electron rich. They react with negative ions, atoms with lone pairs and the electron-rich area around a C=C bond)
What is a radical?
A species with an unpaired electron
What are structural isomers?
Isomers where the atoms are connected in different ways (the molecular formulas are the same but the structural formulas are different)
What are chain isomers?
The carbon skeletons are arranged differently
Similar chemical properties, different physical properties (e.g. boiling point)
What are positional isomers?
The functional groups are attached to different carbon atoms.
Different physical and chemical properties.
What are functional group isomers?
The same atoms can be arranged into different functional groups.
Different physical and chemical properties.
What happens in heterolytic fission?
The bond breaks unevenly with one of the bonded atoms receiving both electrons from the bonded pair
What happens in homolytic fission?
The bond breaks evenly and each bonding atom receives one electron from the bonded pair. Two electrically uncharged radicals are formed
What is a photochemical reaction?
A reaction started by light, e.g. UV light
What happens in initiation?
Radicals are produced (UV light is required)
