Defintions Flashcards
1
Q
What is covalent bonding?
A
- The strong electrostatic attraction between a shared pair of electrons and the nuclei of the bonded atoms
2
Q
What is electronegativity?
A
- The ability of a bonded atom to attract the bonding electrons in a covalent bond
3
Q
What is a hydrogen bond?
A
A special type of permanent dipole-dipole interaction found between molecules containing:
- an electronegative atom (such as F, O and N) with a lone pair of electrons
- a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom
4
Q
What is a homologous series?
A
- A series of organic compounds with the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2
5
Q
What is an empirical formula?
A
- The simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a compound
6
Q
What are structural isomers?
A
- Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae
7
Q
What is homolytic fission?
A
- Each atom takes one of the electrons from the covalent bond, which causes the formation of 2 radicals
8
Q
What is a radical?
A
- A species with an unpaired electron
9
Q
What is heterolytic fission?
A
- When one of the atoms takes both electrons from the covalent bond (this atom becomes negatively charged, and the other becomes positively charged)
10
Q
What is a curly arrow?
A
- The movement of an electron pair, showing either:
- The formation of a covalent bond
- Heterolytic fission
11
Q
What are stereoisomers?
A
- Compounds with the same structural formula but with a different arrangement in space
12
Q
What is E/Z isomerism?
A
- A type of stereoisomerism in which different groups attached to each carbon of a C=C double bond may be arranged differently in space because of the restricted rotation of the C=C bond
13
Q
What is cis-trans isomerism?
A
- A type of E/Z isomerism where there are 2 non-hydrogen groups and 2 hydrogen atoms around the carbon-carbon double bond
14
Q
What is an electrophile?
A
- An electron pair acceptor
(- They’re usually a positive ion or a molecule containing an atom with a partial positive charge)
15
Q
What is a nucleophile?
A
- An electron pair donor
