C7 - organic chemistry

• what is the definition of organic chemistry?


  a branch of chemical study and inquiry concerned with the nature of carbon containing compounds.
• what is the homologous series?


  a series of molecules which have the same general formula based on the same functional groups but differing only in the increasing length of their carbon chain.
• what is a functional group?


  a functional group is the atom, group of atoms or specific bonds present within a molecule which determine its chemical properties.
• what is the definition of hydrocarbons?

  molecules which contain carbon and hydrogen only
• what is a covalent bond?


  a chemical bond consisting of a shared paired of electrons
• what is a double covalent bond?


  a chemical bond consisting of two sets of shared pairs of electrons
• what is a triple covalent bond?


  a chemical bond consisting of three sets of shared pairs of electrons
• what is the definition of saturated?


  refers to a chemical compound which contains only single covalent bonds. it is regarded as saturated as no further hydrogens can be added to the carbon chain.
• what is the definition of unsaturated?


  refers to a chemical compound which contains at least one double covalent bond
• what is the valency of carbon?


  carbon has a valency of 4 which means it has 4 electrons in its outer shell and is capable of forming 4 covalent bonds in order to from a stable full outer shell.
• what are the different homologous series?

  • alkanes
  • alkenes
  • alcohols
  • carboxylic acid
  • amine
  • aldehyde
  • ketone
• what is the general formula for alkanes?


  CnH2n+2
• what is the general formula for alkenes?


  CnH2n
• what is the general formula for alcohols?


  CnH2n+1OH
• what is the general formula for carboxylic acid?


  CnH2n+1COOH
• what is the general formula for amine?


  CnH2n+1NH2
• what is the general formula for aldehyde?

  CnH2nO
• what is the general formula for ketone?

  CnH2nO
• what is an example of of an alkane?


  methane
• what is an example of an alkene?


  ethene
• what is an example of an alcohol?


  ethanol
• what is an example of a carboxylic acid?


  ethanoic acid
• what is an example of amine?


  ethylamine
• what is an example of a aldehyde?


  ethanal
• what is an example of a ketone?


  propanone
• what type of reaction takes place using alkanes?

  burning/combustion
• what reaction occurs using alkenes?

  addition or addition polymerisation
• what type of reaction occurs using alcohol?

  combustion and esterification
• what type of reaction occurs using a carboxylic acid?

  weak acids or esterification
• what type of reaction occurs using amine?

  condensation and forming of polyamines
• what are the key points of a alkane?

  • simple organic compound
  • only single covalent bonds
  • example of a saturated hydrocarbon
• what are the key points of an alkene?

  • contains at least 1 double covalent bond
  • example of an unsaturated hydrocarbon
• what are the key points of an alcohol?

  • contains at least one -OH
  • apart of the hydroxyl group
• what are the key points of a carboxylic acid?

  • contains a -OH, hydroxyl group and C--O, carbonyl group
  • together referred to as carboxyl group
• what are the key points of an amine?

  • contains an -NH2 group
• what are the key points of an aldehyde?

  • contains a C--O at the end of the carbon chain
• what are the key points of a ketone?

  • contains a C--O at a positions within the middle of the carbon chain
• what are the first 4 carbon chain prefix?

  • meth-
  • eth-
  • prop-
  • but-
• what is combustion? 


  burning a fuel with oxygen
• what is the equation for complete combustion?

  CH4 +2O2 -> CO2 +2H2O