Representing The Formulae Of Organic Compounds

Question 1

What is the molecular formula?

Answer 1

This shows the number and types of atoms of each element present in a molecule.

Question 2

What does the molecular formula not show?

Answer 2

How the atoms are joined together?

Question 3

What can have the same molecular formula?

Answer 3

Different molecules.

Question 4

What is the empirical formula?

Answer 4

The simplest whole number ratio of the atoms of each element in a compound.

Question 5

What is the general formula?

Answer 5

This is the simplest algebraic formula for any member of a homologous series.

Question 6

What is the general formula of alkanes?

Answer 6

CnH2n+2

Question 7

What is the general formula of alkenes?

Answer 7

CnH2n

Question 8

What is the general formula for alcohols?

Answer 8

CnH2n+1OH

Question 9

What is the general formula for carboxylic acids?

Answer 9

CnH2nO2

Question 10

What is the general formula for ketones?

Answer 10

CnH2nO

Question 11

What does the displayed formula show?

Answer 11

The relative positioning of all the atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them.

Question 12

What is the structural formula?

Answer 12

This uses the smallest amount of detail to show the arrangement of atoms in a molecule.

Question 13

What is the skeletal formula?

Answer 13

This is a simplified organic formula.

Question 14

What do you remove to show the skeletal formula?

Answer 14

All of the carbon and hydrogen labels from carbon chains.

Any bonds to hydrogen atoms.

Question 15

What does the skeletal formula show?

Answer 15

A carbon skeleton with functional groups.

Question 16

What does a line represent in a skeletal formula?

Answer 16

A single bond.

Question 17

What does an intersection of two lines represent?

Answer 17

A carbon atom.

Question 18

What does the end of a line represent?

Answer 18

A methyl group