organic chemistry

• What is a hydrocarbon?

  A compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon only
• What does the molecular formula represent?

  The actual number of each type of atom in a compound
• What characterizes an unsaturated compound?

  It contains a C=C double bond
• What defines a saturated compound?

  It contains single carbon-carbon bonds only
• What is a general formula in organic chemistry?

  An algebraic formula for a homologous series, e.g., C$_nH_{2n}$
• What does the empirical formula represent?

  It shows the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in the compound
• What is a displayed formula?

  • Shows all the covalent bonds present in a molecule
  • Includes all atoms and their connections
• How should hydrogen atoms be added when drawing organic compounds?

  So that each carbon has 4 bonds
• What is the shape around the carbon atom in saturated hydrocarbons?

  The shape is tetrahedral with a bond angle of 109.5°
• What is a skeletal formula?

  • A simplified organic formula
  • Shows the carbon skeleton and associated functional groups
  • Hydrogen atoms are removed from alkyl chains
• What is a structural formula?

  • Shows the minimal detail of the arrangement of atoms in a molecule
  • Example for butane: CH$_3CH_2CH_2CH_3$ or CH$_3(CH_2)_2CH_3$

  
• What are homologous series?

  • Families of organic compounds with the same functional group
  • Same general formula
  • Gradual change in physical properties (e.g., boiling point)
  • Each member differs by CH$_2$ from the last
• What is a functional group?

  An atom or group of atoms that causes different molecules to have similar chemical properties
• What are the suffixes and prefixes for different functional groups?

  • Alkanes: -ane
  • Alkenes: -ene
  • Alcohols: -ol (hydroxy-)
  • Halogenoalkanes: chloro-, bromo-, iodo-
  • Aldehydes: -al (formyl-)
  • Ketones: -one (oxo-)
  • Carboxylic acids: -oic acid
  • Esters: -yl –oate
• What is the general formula for alkanes?

  C$_nH_{2n+2}$

  
• How do you name branched carbon chains?

  Count the longest carbon chain and name appropriately, then add prefixes for branched chains
• How do you indicate the position of a functional group on a carbon chain?

  By using a number that gives the functional group the lowest number
• What is the rule for separating words and numbers in naming compounds?

  Words are separated by dashes and numbers are separated by commas
• What happens when a suffix starts with a vowel in naming compounds?

  You remove the -e from the stem alkane name
• What is the priority order for functional groups in naming compounds?

  Carboxylic acids > aldehydes > ketones > alcohols > alkenes > halogenoalkanes
• What are the basic rules for naming functional groups?

  • Use the appropriate suffix or prefix
  • Include position numbers if necessary
  • List groups in alphabetical order (ignoring di, tri)
• What is the suffix for aldehydes?


  • al
• What is the suffix for ketones?


  • one
• What is the suffix for carboxylic acids?

  • oic acid
• How do you name compounds with multiple functional groups?

  The highest precedence group takes the suffix, and others take the prefix form
• What is structural isomerism?

  • Same molecular formula but different structures
  • Includes chain isomerism, position isomerism, and functional group isomerism
• What is chain isomerism?

  Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures of the carbon skeleton
• What is position isomerism?

  Compounds with the same molecular formula but different positions of the same functional group
• What is functional group isomerism?

  Compounds with the same molecular formula but different functional groups
• What is stereoisomerism?

  • Same structural formulae but different spatial arrangement of atoms
  • Alkenes can exhibit E-Z stereoisomerism
• What causes E-Z stereoisomerism?

  Restricted rotation about the C=C bond and different groups attached to the double bond
• How do you label E-Z isomers?

  If the priority atom is on the same side, it is labeled Z; if on opposite sides, it is labeled E
• What is the priority group in E-Z isomerism?

  The atom with the bigger atomic number is classed as the priority atom
• How does but-1-ene differ from but-2-ene in terms of isomerism?

  But-1-ene is a structural isomer of but-2-ene but does not show E-Z isomerism
• What is the significance of the C=O bond in aldehydes?

  It is always on the first carbon of the chain, so it does not need an extra number
• How do you name ketones with 5 or more carbons?

  They need a number to show the position of the double bond
• What is the naming convention for carboxylic acids?

  They end in -oic acid and do not require a number for the acid group
• What is the name for a compound with two carboxylic acid groups?

  • dioic acid
• How do you name compounds with two ketone groups?

  Use di before -one and add an e to the stem
• How do you name compounds with two aldehyde groups?

  Use di before -al and add an e to the stem