Unit 3 Glossary Flashcards
Addition reaction
joining two or more molecules together to form a larger molecule.
Alkyl group
group with general formula CnH2n+1 obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from an alkane, usually represented by R.
Alkylation
The introduction of an alkyl group into an organic molecule.
Antibonding orbital
A molecular orbital outside the region between the two nuclei
Aromatic
An organic compound that contains a benzene ring
Chiral carbon
carbon with four different atoms or groups attached.
condensation reaction
joining of molecules with the release of water as a product.
covalent bond
the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons between two atoms.
dehydration reaction
a reaction in which water is eliminated from a molecule.
electrophilic addition
an addition reaction initiated by the rate-determining attack of an electrophile on the pi electrons of the carbon-carbon double bond.
electrophilic substitution
a substitution reaction in which the new group introduced into the molecule is an electrophile.
enantiomers
a pair of molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images
racemic mixture
an equimolar mixture of two enantiomers of the same compound; as their rotation of plane-polarised light is equal but opposite, the mixture is not optically active.
