Organic Chemistry Flashcards
(39 cards)
What is the main focus of Organic Chemistry?
The study of compounds of carbon, excluding certain oxides, metallic trioxocarbonates, disulphides, and tetrachlorides.
What types of elements are commonly found in organic compounds?
Carbon and hydrogen, with or without oxygen, nitrogen, or halogens.
Which elements are occasionally found in organic compounds besides carbon and hydrogen?
Phosphorus, sulfur, and metals.
Why are organic compounds studied separately from inorganic compounds?
Organic compounds are generally much less stable than inorganic compounds.
What is the unique property of carbon that distinguishes it in Organic Chemistry?
The ability to form bonds with one another and a wide variety of other elements.
How many covalent bonds can a carbon atom form?
Four covalent bonds.
What is the term used to describe the bonding capability of carbon?
Tetravalent.
How many valence electrons does a carbon atom have?
Four valence electrons.
What is the geometric distribution of the four pairs of electrons around a carbon atom in covalent bonds?
Tetrahedrally distributed.
Fill in the blank: Organic compounds derived from living organisms contain carbon and _______.
Hydrogen.
True or False: Organic compounds are generally more stable than inorganic compounds.
False.
What does tetravalency correlate with in carbon atoms?
The fact that carbon has four valence electrons.
What factor contributes to the versatility of carbon and the stability of its compounds?
The unusual strength of carbon single bonds
Carbon’s ability to form stable bonds is crucial for the formation of complex organic molecules.
How many valence electrons does a carbon atom have?
Four
This allows carbon to combine with as many as four other atoms.
What is one key ability of carbon atoms in terms of bonding?
Combine with atoms of other non-metals
This property enhances carbon’s versatility in forming various compounds.
What structures can carbon atoms form?
Straight chains, branched chains, or ring structures
These structural possibilities are fundamental to organic chemistry.
What does a formula convey about a compound?
Information about its composition and structure
Formulas are essential for understanding chemical compounds.
What does an empirical formula indicate?
The relative number of atoms in a compound
It does not provide information about the structure of the compound.
What is the empirical formula of benzene?
CH
This indicates one carbon atom for every hydrogen atom in benzene.
What does a molecular formula state?
The actual number of atoms in a molecule
It does not convey structural information.
What is the molecular formula of benzene?
C6H6
This contrasts with its empirical formula CH.
What does a structural formula provide?
The actual number of atoms, bonding arrangement, and three-dimensional configuration
This is critical for understanding the specific structure of molecules.
What notation is used to indicate which atoms are bonded to each other in a structural formula?
Specific symbols and lines
These notations illustrate the connectivity of atoms within the molecule.
What are heterocyclic compounds?
Ringed compounds that contain other atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or sulphur besides carbon
Example: furan
