Organic Chemistry Flashcards
(123 cards)
What is a general formula for alkanes?
CnHn+2
What are alkanes?
- Hydrocarbons: compound of carbon and hydrogen only
- Saturated: Contain only single bonds
- Bonding: Each carbon forms 4 sigma bonds (overlap of orbitals is directly between the bonding atoms)
- Shape: 4 bond pairs of electrons repel each other equally to get as far apart as possible to form a tetrahedral shape with 109.5 degree bond angle.
Intermolecular forces of alkanes
- London forces
- Non-polar molecule ( C and H have similar electronegativity)
- Random movement of electrons lead to uneven distribution of charge -> instantaneous dipole
- Induces a dipole in a neighbouring molecule
Melting and Boiling points of alkanes
- Low -> methane, ethane, propane and butane are all gases
- Effect of chain length -> As number of carbons increases, the number of electrons increases and the molecule have more surface contact between them -> more / stronger London forces so more energy is needed to overcome IMF.
How does branching affect the boiling point of alkanes?
- The more branched a compound is, the fewer surface area interactions there are between molecules - this is because molecules cannot fit together as neatly and closely.
- Therefore branched molecules have fewer induced dipole-dipole attractions compared to the straight-chain isomers.
- Therefore more branching = lower boiling point.
What is a homologous series?
- A series of organic compounds having the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2.
- They have similar chemical properties and a gradation of physical properties is seen.
What is a functional group?
- A group of atoms responsible for the characteristics reactions of a compound
What is meant by ‘aliphatic’ ?
- Compound containing carbon and hydrogen joined together in straight chains, branched chains or non-aromatic chains.
What is meant by ‘alicyclic’
- An aliphatic compound arranged in non-aromatic rings with or without side chains
What is meant by aromatic?
- A compound containing a benzene ring
What is the functional group for the following?
- Alcohol
- Aldehyde
- Alkane
- Carboxylic acid
- Alkene
- haloalkane
- ketone
- Alcohol -> -OH
- Aldehyde -> -CHO
- Alkane -> -C-C
- Carboxylic acid -> -COOH
- Alkene -> C=C
- haloalkane -> -F, -Cl, Br, I
- ketone -> C-CO-C
What is a general formula?
- The simplest algebraic formula for a homologous series
What is a displayed formula?
- Shows the relative positions of atoms and the bonds between them
What is the structural formula?
- provides the minimum detail for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule
What is an empirical formula?
- The smallest whole-number ratio of atoms of the elements in a compound.
What is a skeletal formula?
- Is a simplified structural formula drawn by removing hydrogen atoms from alkyl chains
What are structural isomers?
- Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae.
What are the three ways a structural isomer can form?
- The alkyl groups are in different places
- The functional group can be bonded to different parts of the parents chain.
- The functional group could be different
What is a molecular formula?
- Shows the number and type of the atoms of each element in a compound
What are stereoisomers?
- Organic compounds with the same molecular formula and structural formula but having different arrangements of atoms in space
What is meant by cis/trans isomerism?
- A type of E / Z isomerism in which the two substituent groups attached to both carbon atoms of the C=C bond are the same.
What is E/Z isomerism?
- Type of stereoisomerism caused by the restricted rotation around a double bond due to pi bonds.
- Two different groups are attached to both carbon atoms of the C=C
What are the different types of covalent bond fission?
- Homolytic fission -> in terms of each bonding atoms receiving one electron from the bonded pair, forming two radicals
- Heterolytic fission -> in terms
of one bonding atoms receiving both electrons from the bonded pair.
What is a radical?
- A species with an unpaired electron