Introduction to Organic Chemistry Flashcards
(29 cards)
Aliphatic compounds
Straight-chain or branched-chain organic compounds that also include cyclic organic molecules that do not contain benzene rings.
What are aryl compounds?
Compounds that contain at least 1 benzene ring.
Types of structural isomerism
- Position isomerism
- Functional group isomerism
- Chain isomerism
What is position isomerism?
The position of the functional group varies in the isomers.
What is functional group isomerism?
Isomers have different functional groups present.
What is chain isomerism?
The isomers differ in their carbon skeleton.
Types of stereoisomerism
- Geometrical isomerism (cis/trans)
- Optical isomerism
What are stereoisomers?
Compounds that have the same atoms bonded to each other in the same way but the arrangement of the atoms are different in three-dimensional space.
When is a geometrical isomer a cis or trans isomer?
Cis isomer is when the groups are pointed in the same direction.
Trans isomer is when the groups are pointed across from each other.
What is meant by reaction mechanism?
The series of steps that take place in the course of the overall reaction.
What is a homolytic fission?
In this reaction, both the atoms at each end of the bond will leave with one electron from the pair that formed the covalent electron.
Steps of a homolytic fission.
- Initiation step: formation of free radicals to start a reaction
- Propagation steps: steps in a mechanism that regenerates more free radicals
- Termination step: final step in a mechanism when two free radicals meet and form a product molecule.
What happens in heterolytic fission?
The more electronegative atom takes both the electrons in the covalent bond.
What are carbocations?
An example of electrophiles
Types of carbocations and name them from least to most stable.
- Primary carbocation
- Secondary carbocation
- Tertiary carbocation
What are primary, secondary and tertiary carbocation?
Primary has 2 hydrogen
Secondary has 1 hydrogen
Tertiary has no hydrogen.
Alkyl groups have what effect?
Positive inductive effect.
Why are alkyl groups called electron donating?
Because any alkyl groups attached to the carbon atom tend to push its electrons away from them and reduce the charge density of the positive charge on the carbocation.
What is an electrophile?
A species in organic chemistry that can act as an electron pair acceptor.
What is a nucleophile?
A species that can act as a pair of electron donor
What is an electrophilic addition reaction?
It is a reaction in which an electron rich region in a molecule is attacked by an electrophile followed by the addition of a small molecule to give one product only.
What is a nucleophilic substitution reaction?
It is a reaction in which an electron rich nucleophile displaces a halogen atom in a molecule.
What is a nucleophilic addition reaction?
It is a reaction in which a nucleophile attacks an electron deficient region of a molecule followed by the addition of a small molecule to produce one product only.
Why are some regions in a molecule electron deficient?
Because the more electronegative atom pulls the covalently bonded electrons towards itself.
