Introduction To Organic Chemistry Flashcards
(32 cards)
What do formulas help with, and why
Formulas help to visualise molecules, as picturing molecules can be quite difficult as we can’t see them all around us. This can be done using molecular formula or displayed formula
What is a functional group
The functional group of a molecule is the group of atoms that is responsible for its characteristic reactions. It is the bit that is not just hydrogen and carbon atoms
What does nomenclature mean
It means naming molecules using specific rules
What is a molecular formula
Formula that gives the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule eg: ethane - C2H6
What is a structural formula
A formula that shows the atoms carbon by carbon, with the attached hydrogen and functional groups
Eg : butane - CH3CH2CH2CH3
What is a displayed formula
A formula that shows how all atoms are arranged, and all the bonds between them eg: ethane
H H
| |
H-C-C-H
| |
H H
What is a general formula
An algebraic formula that can describe any member of a family of compounds
Eg: alkane - Cn H2n+2
What is a skeletal formula
A formula that shows the bonds of the carbon skeleton only with any functional groups. Handy for drawing large, complicated structures
Eg: butane - /\/
What is a homologous series
A series of molecules that all have the same functional group and the same general formula
What does knowing what homologous series a molecule belongs to help predict
Some of the ways that it will behave or act with other molecules
What are alkanes
. They are hydrocarbons
. Have general formula Cn H2n+2
. It is impossible for the carbon to make more that 4 bonds therefore alkane are saturated
. An example is pentane
What are halogenoalkanes
. Similar to the structure of alkane, however atleast 1 hydrogen atom is replaced with a halogen atom - F, Cl, Br or I.
. That have the prefix flouro, chloro, bromo, or iodo.
. An example is chloromethane
What are cycloalkanes
. A ring or carbon atoms with 2 hydrogen atoms attached to each carbon atom.
. Has 2 fewer hydrogens than normal alkanes so it has the general formula CnH2n
. Is fully saturated
. An example is cyclopropane
What is a branched alkane
An alkane that doesnt have all the carbons in one straight line. It has 1 main long chain of carbon and then 1 or more carbons branching off
. These branches are called alkyl groups.
. An example is methyl propane
What is an alkene
. Is a hydrocarbon with a double bond in it that is between 2 carbon atoms
. Has general formula CnH2n
. The carbon atoms eith the double bond between them are only bonded to 3 hydrogen and not 4, meaning another bond could form, so alkene is unsaturated
. An example is butene
What are alcohols
. Organic molecules that contain OH- or hydroxyl functional group.
. Have the suffix -ol
. General formula is Cn H2n+1 OH
. Example is ethanol
What are aldehydes
. When one end end of the carbon chian has a carbon that has a double bond to an oxygen atom and a single bond to a hydrogen atom
. Has the suffix -al
. Example is propanal
What are kentones
. Has one of the carbons that isn’t the end carbons, double bonded to an oxygen atom
. Has suffix -one
. An example is propanone
What are carboxylic acids
. All contain the functional group COOH
. one of the end carbons is double bonded to an oxygen atom and single bondd to an OH
. An example is methanoic acid
What is nomenclature
A fancy name for naming organic compounds
What system is used for naming organic compounds
The IUPAC system. It is the agreed international language of chemistry
What are mechanisms
Mechanisms break down a series of reactions into a sequence of stages
What do reaction mechanism diagrams show
How molecules react together using curly arrows to show which bonds are being made and broken
What needs to occur in order for bonds to be made and broken during a reaction
Electrons moving around
