chapter 11 basic concepts of organic chemistry

Question 1

what is the main component of organic chemistry?

Answer 1

carbon. this element is special because it can form many types of bonds

Question 2

what is a hydrocarbon?

Answer 2

a compound containing only hydrogen and carbon

Question 3

what does saturated mean?

Answer 3

contains only single bonds e.g. alkanes

Question 4

what does unsaturated mean?

Answer 4

containing a multiple C=C bond e.g. alkenes and alkynes.

Question 5

what is a homologous series?

Answer 5

a family of compounds with similar chemical properties whose successive members differ by CH2

Question 6

what is a functional group?

Answer 6

part of the organic molecule responsible for the molecules chemical properties

Question 7

what is nomenclature?

Answer 7

a system of naming compounds

Question 8

what are the 3 classifications of hydrocarbons?

Answer 8

•aliphatic
•alicyclic
•aromatic

Question 9

what does aliphatic mean?

Answer 9

carbon atoms are joined to eachother in unbranched or branched chains or non aromatic rings

Question 10

what does alicyclic mean?

Answer 10

carbon atoms are joined to each other in ring structures with or without branches

Question 11

what does aromatic mean?

Answer 11

some or all of the carbon atoms are found in a benzene ring

Question 12

what are the 3 homologous series of aliphatic hydrocarbons?

Answer 12

alkanes, alkenes, alkynes

Question 13

what does the stem of an organic compounds name indicate?

Answer 13

the number of carbon atoms in its longest chain e.g. prop, but, pent etc

Question 14

what do prefixes and suffixes in a compound’s name indicate?

Answer 14

•prefix- can be added before the stem to indicate the presence of side chains or functional groups
•suffix- added after the stem to indicate functional groups

Question 15

what are the 4 steps to naming aliphatic alkanes?

Answer 15

•all alkanes have the suffix -ane
•identify the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms
•identify any side chains attached to the parent chain
•add numbers before any alkyl groups to indicate the position of the alkyl group on the parent chain

Question 16

what is an alkyl group?

Answer 16

a side chain formed by removing a H atom removed from an alkane parent

Question 17

which C chain is considered the longest if there are multiple possible chains with the same length?

Answer 17

the chain with the most branching

Question 18

what is the prefix used when naming alicyclic alkanes?

Answer 18

cyclo-

Question 19

what are the rules for naming alkenes?

Answer 19

all alkenes have the suffix -ene and the position of the C=C bond must be stated for alkenes but- and above

Question 20

what are the 3 steps needed for naming compounds containing functional groups?

Answer 20

•identify longest C chain
•identify functional groups and alkyl groups
•number alkyl groups and functional groups

Question 21

what is the aldehyde functional group and suffix?

Answer 21

-CHO and -al

Question 22

what is the ketone functional group and suffix?

Answer 22

-C(CO)C- and -one

Question 23

what is the molecular formula?

Answer 23

a formula that shows the number and type of atoms of each element but does not show how they are bonded. e.g. C6H12O6 - glucose

Question 24

what is the empirical formula?

Answer 24

a formula that shows the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a compound. e.g. CH2O for glucose

Question 25

what is the general formula?

Answer 25

the simplest algebraic formula for any member of a homologous series. e.g. CnH2n+2 for alkanes

Question 26

what is the displayed formula?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

what is the structural formula?

Answer 27

a formula showing minimal detail for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule

Question 28

what is the skeletal formula?

Answer 28

a simplified organic formula, with H atoms removed from alkyl chains leaving just a carbon skeleton and associated functional groups

Question 29

what is structural isomerism?

Answer 29

compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formula

Question 30

what are the two types of fission that can break covalent bonds?

Answer 30

homolytic and heterolytic fission

Question 31

what is homolytic fission?

Answer 31

each of the bonded atoms takes one of the shared pair of electrons from the bond leaving each atom with a single unpaired electron

Question 32

what is a radical?

Answer 32

an atom or group of atoms with an unpaired electron

Question 33

what is heterolytic fission?

Answer 33

when the covalent bond breaks one atom takes both electrons. this leaves a positive and negative ion

Question 34

what is the reaction mechanism?

Answer 34

sequence of bond breaking and bond forming steps that shows the path taken by electrons during a reaction

Question 35

what are curly arrows used for in reaction mechanisms?

Answer 35

to show the movement of a pair of electrons when bonds are being broken or made

Question 36

what are the 3 types of reaction?

Answer 36

•addition •substitution •elimination

Question 37

what are curly arrows with half arrow heads used for?

Answer 37

fish hook heads are used to show the movement of just one electron during homolytic fission

Question 38

what is an addition reaction?

Answer 38

two reactants join together to form one product. e.g. but-2-ene + water = butan-2-ol

Question 39

what is a substitution reaction?

Answer 39

an atom or group of atoms is replaced by a different atom or group of atoms. e.g. 1-bromopropane + OH- = propan-1-ol + Br-

Question 40

what is an elimination reaction?

Answer 40

involves the removal of a small molecule from a larger one. one reactant molecule forms 2 products. e.g. propan-1-ol = propene + water