L5: Carbon compounds & isomerisation

Question 1

Define functional groups

Answer 1

Specific combinations & geometries of heteroatoms

Question 2

Define heteroatoms

Answer 2

Any atom that is NOT a carbon or hydrogen

Question 3

What is the primary focus of organic chemistry?

Answer 3

Carbon-containing compounds

Question 4

What are constitutional isomers?

Answer 4

Molecules with the same molecular formula but different connectivity

Question 5

What are hydrocarbon frameworks in organic compounds?

Answer 5

Basic skeletons composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms

Question 6

What is the significance of carbon chains in organic chemistry?

Answer 6

They provide the structural framework for diverse molecules

Question 7

What distinguishes alkenes from alkanes?

Answer 7

Alkene has a carbon-carbon double bond

Alkane has a C-C triple bond

Question 8

What are aryl groups?

Answer 8

Substituents derived from an aromatic ring

Question 9

How do alkyl groups function in organic chemistry?

Answer 9

They serve as substituents

Question 10

How do functional groups contribute to the properties of organic molecules?

Answer 10

They determine a molecule’s chemical properties

Question 11

What is the relationship between molecular structure and boiling points in alkanes?

Answer 11

Increased branching decreases boiling points

Question 12

Define isomers

Answer 12

molecules with the same molecular formula but different 3D structures

Question 13

name 2 main groups of isomers

Answer 13

1) constitutional isomers
2) stereoisomers

Question 14

difference between constitutional isomers & stereoisomers

Answer 14

constitutional isomers differ in their chemical bonding

stereoisomers have identical bonding patterns, but spatial arrangments differ

Question 15

Why is chirality important in the context of thalidomide?

Answer 15

Chirality results in different enantiomers having distinct therapeutic effects

Question 16

What is a racemic mixture?

Answer 16

A mixture containing equal amounts of enantiomers

Question 17

What is the importance of IUPAC rules in naming organic compounds?

Answer 17

They ensure a universal and unambiguous naming convention

Question 18

How do D and L labels relate to biological molecules?

Answer 18

Indicate stereoisomer configuration

Question 19

What are atropisomers, and how do they arise?

Answer 19

Atropisomers result from restricted rotation about a single bond

Question 20

What defines chirality in molecules?

Answer 20

Having a non-superimposable mirror image

Question 21

What historical example illustrates the importance of chirality in pharmaceuticals?

Answer 21

The thalidomide tragedy

Question 22

What defines a chiral center in a molecule?

Answer 22

An atom bonded to four different chemical groups

Question 23

What 3 techniques can be used to characterize organic molecules?

Answer 23

NMR, Mass Spectrometry, and IR

Question 24

What is the role of stereoisomerism in organic compounds?

Answer 24

Affecting the biological activity of organic compounds

Question 25

What is optical activity and how do chiral compounds exhibit it?

Answer 25

The rotation of polarized light, exhibited by molecules lacking internal symmetry

Question 26

What is the difference between E/Z nomenclature and cis/trans labeling?

Answer 26

E/Z is applicable to all alkenes cis/trans is limited to disubstituted alkenes

Question 27

How does cis-trans isomerism affect the properties of a molecule?

Answer 27

It affects the physical and chemical properties

Question 28

What is the significance of diastereomers in stereochemistry?

Answer 28

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other

Question 29

Why are enantiomers significant in biological systems?

Answer 29

They may exhibit different biological activity because biological systems are stereospecific

Question 30

What role do lipids play in biological systems?

Answer 30

Providing insulation, energy storage, and cell structure

Question 31

What is the difference between R and S nomenclature in stereochemistry?

Answer 31

R is "clockwise" and S is "counterclockwise" based on substituent priority

Question 32

How can you determine the configuration of a chiral center using the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog system?

Answer 32

By assigning priorities and tracing a path with the lowest priority group pointing away from you

Question 33

What are enantiomers and how do they behave in chiral environments?

Answer 33

Non-superimposable mirror images that behave differently in chiral environments

Question 34

What does chirality mean?

Answer 34

'Mirror-image, non-superimposable molecules'

Question 35

How does thalidomide demonstrate the concept of racemisation?

Answer 35

Thalidomide undergoes rapid interconversion between its enantiomers in vivo

Question 36

How do phospholipids contribute to membrane structure?

Answer 36

They form a bilayer with hydrophobic tails inward

Question 37

What are glycerolipids and how are they formed?

Answer 37

Lipids with a glycerol backbone formed by esterification with fatty acids

Question 38

What is keto-enol tautomerism and why is it significant in biology?

Answer 38

A reversible interconversion between keto and enol forms, influencing DNA stability and enzymatic reactions