Topic 6: Organic Chemistry I Flashcards
What is a hydrocarbon
Compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon only
What is a homologous series
A series of compounds which similar properties, same general formula and same functional group. Differ by CH2
What is structural formula
A way if representing the molecules that shows the atoms carbon by carbon with attached hydrogens and functional groups
Eg. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
What is displayed formula
A way of representing the molecules that shows how all the atoms are arranged and all the bonds between them
What is the general formula & functional group of an alkane
CnH(2n+2)
C-C
What is the general formula & functional group of an alkene
CnH(2n)
C=C
What is the general formula & functional group of alkynes
CnH(2n-2)
C-C triple bond***
What is the general formula & functional group of alcohols
CnH(2n+1)
-OH
What is the general formula & functional group of halogenalkanes
CnH(2n+1)
-Hal
What is the general formula & functional group of aldehydes
RCOH
-CHO
What is the general formula and functional group of ketones
CnH(2n)O
C=O
What is the general formula and functional group of carboxylic acids
CnH(2n+1)
-COOH
What is the general formula and functional group of Ethers
R-O-R
What is the general formula and functional group of primary amines ?
RNH2
What is the skeletal formula
A simplified organic formulae which only shows the carbon skeleton and associated functional groups
What is an addition reaction
A reaction where 2 or more molecules join together to form another molecule
What is polymerisation
Many monomers join together to make a long chain polymer
What is an elimination reaction
A reaction where atoms or small groups are lost from adjacent carbon atoms (common products removed are halides/H2O)
What is a substitution reaction
A reaction where an atom or group (eg.hydroxide ion) is replaced with another
What is a hydrolysis reaction
A reaction where a molecule is split by adding H+ and OH- (derived from water).
Often require a catalyst of acid or alkali
What is an oxidation reaction
A reaction where a species loses electrons. Other ways to describe it is a gain of oxygen or removal of hydrogen
What is a reduction reaction
A reaction where a species gains electrons. Other ways to describe it is the loss of oxygen and gain of hydrogen
What does a full curly arrow represent
Movement of 2 electrons
What does a half curly arrow represent ?
Movement of one electron
What are the three types of reagents
Nucleophiles
Electrophiles
Radicals
What are nucleophiles
They are electron pair donors
They can be either negatively charged or have lone pair electrons
They are attracted to electron poor centres
What are electrophiles
They are electron pair acceptors.
They can be either positively charged or have an area of electron deficiency
They are attracted to negative ions and electron rich centres
What are radicals
They have an unpaired electron which means they are very reactive
As a result their products are a complete mixture
What is a chain isomer
Carbon chain gets arranged differently
What are position isomers
Possible when there are functional groups can be put in different positions on the carbon chain
What are functional group isomers
Structural isomers that have different functional groups, leading to very different physical and chemical properties
What are the types of structural isomer?
Chain isomer
Position isomer
Functional group isomer
Stereoisomer
What are stereoisomers
Compounds with the same structural formula but different arrangement in 3D space
What is the difference between E/Z isomers
E= entgegen (opposite)
Z= zusammen (together)
What are the Cahn-Ingald-Prelog rules to determine whether a stereoisomer is an E/Z isomer when the carbons have different groups attached to them
Draw dashed line across the centre of the double bond
Atoms with a larger atomic number are given higher priority (1)
If the atoms directly bonded to the carbon are the same you move to the next one
How can you differ between a cis/trans stereoisomer
Cis- the same groups are on the same side of the double bond
Trans- the same groups are on opposite sides of the double bond
Why is refluxing used in organic chemistry
Useful as can be used for:
- flammable or volatile substances
- slow reactions
- continuous evaporation and condensation
- anti bumping granules in round bottomed flask
What is distillation and how is it used in organic chemistry
Gentle heating of a mixture, lowest boiling point substance evaporates first
You can compare this to known boiling points
Used in making primary alcohols
How and why is 1st stage of separation (separating funnel) used in organic chemistry
Used if product is not soluble in water
Denser layer is drawn down
Removes soluble impurities from product
How to use it :
Pour mixture into funnel
Add water
Shake the mixture and allow layers to separate
Run off two layers after having removed the stopper
How and why is the 2nd stage of separation (drying) used in organic chemistry
You will have some water left over in your product so…
Use a drying agent such as anhydrous magnesium sulfate or calcium chloride, then filter
How does fractional distillation work (crude oil)
Crude oil is evaporated/vaporised
Then condensed back into a liquid
Liquids of different boiling points condense at different levels
Define the term ‘fraction’
Molecules of a similar chain length
After fractional distillation but before the fuels are used as fuels what has to happen
They are refined - sulfur compounds are removed
Why do sulfur compounds have to be removed before a fuel can be used as a fuel ?
When fuels are burnt, sulfur would react with oxygen producing sulfur dioxide
This results in acid rain when dissolved in water
Do branched or unbranched molecules have a lower boiling point ?
Branched molecules
Why do branched molecules have a lower boiling point
Due to reduced surface area, the magnitude of intermolecular forces is also reduced
What is an octane number ?
Measure of a performance of a fuel
A higher octane number means a smoother start when starting an engine - knocking
What are the two methods of making branched and cyclic alkanes
Reforming
Cracking
What does reforming involve
Uses a catalyst and high temperatures
Changes structure of alkane
What are the two types of cracking and what do they need
Thermal cracking - uses temperature and pressure (produces alkenes + alkanes)
Catalytic cracking - uses a catalyst, temperature and pressure ( produces aromatic compounds)
What does the catalyst determine in cracking
Which aromatic compound is formed / produced
Why do we crack?
Higher demand
Forms shorter chain alkanes and alkenes
Shorter chain alkanes ignite more easily- reduced knocking
Shorter chain alkanes are used in making polymers
Shorter chain alkanes are useful starting materials in organic synthesis
What are the products of complete combustion
Water and carbon dioxide
What are the products of incomplete combustion
Carbon dioxide
Water
Carbon monoxide
Carbon
other pollutants from combustion of fuels:
sulfur dioxide
nitrogen oxides
The process of halogenation of an alkane takes place in which 3 stages?
Initiation
Propagation
Termination
Describe the process of initiation
The halogen molecule is split by homolytic fission forming 2 halogen radicals
The rest of the reaction occurs with no further energy input
photodissociation- absorption of light that causes the bond breaking
Describe the stage of propagation
During the halogenation of alkanes the halogen radical with then go on to react with an alkane
It is a rapid process which continues until no more reactant remains (chain reaction)
Describe the stage of termination
Step at the end of radical substitution, where 2 radicals combine to form a molecule
There are a number of different possibilities due to the different radicals that are formed