Topic 6 - Organics 1 Flashcards
Hydrocarbon
A compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon only
Homologous series
Series of organic compounds with the same functional group and general formula
Functional group
A group of atoms responsible for the characteristic reactions of a particular compound
Addition
Joining two or more molecules together to form a larger molecule
Polymerisation
Joining together lots of simple molecules (monomers) to form a giant molecule (polymer)
Repeating unit
A simplest pattern of the polymer that upon translation reproduces the whole structure
Elimination
When a small group of atoms break away from a large molecule to form a C=C
Substitution
When one species is replaced by another
Hydrolysis
Breaking bonds in a molecule by reacting with H2O
Dehydration
Reaction in which water is eliminated from a starting material
Saturated
A compound with all C-C single bonds
Heterolytic fission
The process of breaking a covalent bond in a molecule forming ions (one atom receives the electron pair)
Homolytic fission
The process of breaking a covalent bond to form radicals
Radicals
A species with an unpaired electron
Free radical substitution
Photochemical reaction requiring UV light between halogens and alkanes to form halogenoalkanes
Stereoisomerism
Occurs when two double bonded carbons have different species attached to them eg. cis,trans
Structural isomerism
Occurs when molecules have the same molecular formula but different structure
Cracking
Breaking long chain alkanes into smaller, more useful hydrocarbons
Reforming
Processing of straight chain hydrocarbons into branched chains to reduce risk of knocking
Knocking
When alkanes explode of their own accord when the fuel/air mixture is compressed
Catalytic converters
Get rid of pollutants in cars by using a platinum catalyst to convert them to harmless gases
Biofuels
Fuels made from living matter over a short period of time
Recycling
Conversion of a waste from polymer into useful materials
Feedstock
Conversion of polymer waste into compounds that can be used to synthesise new polymers
Biodegradable
A polymer that can be decomposed by microbes (often has polar groups)
Electrophile
Electron pair acceptor in an organic mechanism
Nucleophile
Electron pair donor in an organic mechanism
Carbocation
A carbon atom with a positive charge
Markovnikoff’s rule
The major product of electrophilic addition to an unsymmetrical alkene results I’m the functional group joining onto the most stable carbon i.e. primary
