definitions Flashcards
(20 cards)
Alicyclic
Containing carbon atoms joined together in a ring that is not aromatic.
Aliphatic
Containing carbon atoms joined together in straight or branched chains.
Aromatic
Containing one or more benzene rings
cis-trans isomerism
A special case of E/Z isomerism in which two of the substituent groups attached to each carbon of the C=C group are the same
Curly arrow
The movement of an electron pair, showing either heterolytic fission or formation of a covalent bond.
Delocalised electrons
Electrons that are shared between more than two atoms
Electrophile
An atom (or group of atoms) which is attracted to an electron-rich centre or atom, where it accepts a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
E/Z isomerism
An example of stereoisomerism, in terms of restricted rotation about a double bond and the requirement for two different groups to be attached to each carbon atom of the C=C group.
Heterolytic fission
The breaking of a covalent bond with both of the bonded electrons going to one atom, forming a cation and an anion.
Homologous series
A series of organic compounds with the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2
Homolytic fission
The breaking of a covalent bond with one of the bonded electrons going to each atom, forming two radicals.
Hydrocarbon
A compound of hydrogen and carbon only
Nucleophile
An electron pair donor
Optical isomerism
An example of stereoisomerism, in terms of non-superimposeable mirror images about a chiral centre.
Radical
A species with an unpaired electron
Reflux
The continual boiling and condensing of a reaction mixture back to the original container to ensure that the reaction takes place without the contents of the flask boiling dry
Saturated
Containing single C-C bonds only
Stereoisomerism
Compounds with the same structural formula but different arrangement of atoms in space
Structural isomerism
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae
Unsaturated
Containing at least one multiple C-C bond
