Unit 5: Classification of Organic Compounds & Unit 6: Functional Groups Flashcards
What is the primary focus of organic chemistry?
The study of carbon compounds and their derivatives.
Which elements are primarily found in organic compounds?
Organic compounds mainly consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, and halogens.
What unique property of carbon allows a vast number of organic compounds?
Catenation enables carbon to form long chains or rings.
What type of linkages are typical in organic compounds?
Organic compounds typically feature covalent linkages.
How do the structures of organic compounds compare to inorganic compounds?
Organic compounds often exhibit complex structures essential for biological functions.
What is an alkyl radical?
An alkyl radical is a group with one hydrogen atom less than the parent alkane.
What solvents are organic compounds soluble in?
Organic compounds are soluble in organic solvents like ether, alcohol, and acetone.
What are the steps to name organic compounds?
- Find the longest carbon chain.
- Number the carbons.
- Use the lowest numbers for substituents.
How do the melting and boiling points of organic and inorganic compounds differ?
Organic compounds have low mp and bp; inorganic compounds have high mp and bp due to ionic strength.
What is the defining characteristic of aldehydes?
Aldehydes have a double bonded oxygen at the end of a carbon chain.
How are ketones named in nomenclature?
Ketones are named with an ending of -one.
How do you indicate multiple alkyl groups in naming?
Use prefixes ‘di-‘ for two and ‘tri-‘ for three of the same alkyl group.
What do organic acids contain in their structure?
Organic acids contain a double bonded oxygen and a -OH group at the end of a carbon chain.
What defines ethers in terms of their structure?
Ethers consist of two carbon chains joined by an oxygen atom.
What defines a functional group in organic chemistry?
Functional groups replace hydrogen atoms in hydrocarbons, imparting different properties to molecules.
What are isomers, and how do they differ?
Isomers have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas and properties.
How are alcohols named in IUPAC nomenclature?
Replace the terminal ‘e’ of the alkane name with ‘-ol’ to indicate an -OH group.
What is catenation?
Catenation is the self-linking property of an element, forming bonds with atoms of the same element.
Why does carbon exhibit maximum catenation?
Carbon has stronger carbon-to-carbon bonds, allowing it to link extensively.
What types of structures can carbon compounds form?
Carbon can form linear chains, branched chains, and rings.
How are hydrocarbons defined?
Hydrocarbons are molecules composed solely of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
What distinguishes organic compounds into families?
Organic compounds are classified into families known as homologous series, unlike inorganic compounds.
What is the trend in boiling points within a homologous series?
Boiling points rise as the number of carbon atoms increases in a homologous series.
What is the primary source of organic versus inorganic compounds?
Organic compounds are obtained from living organisms; inorganic compounds come from air, water, and natural resources.
What geometry do carbon’s four bonds create?
The four bonds of carbon are arranged in a tetrahedral geometry, resembling a pyramid.
