Key Definitions

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grace

Cards (96)

What is a nucleophile?
An electron pair donor.
What is an electrophile?
An electron pair acceptor.
What are structural isomers?
Compounds with the same molecular formula but with different structural formulae.
What are stereoisomers?
Compounds with the same structural formula but with a different arrangement of the atoms in space.
What is E/Z isomerism?
An example of stereoisomerism, in terms of restricted rotation about a double bond and the requirement for two different groups to be attached to each carbon of the C=C group.
What is cis-trans isomerism?
A special case of E/Z isomerism in which two of the substituent groups are the same.
What are optical isomers?
Non-superimposable mirror images about an organic chiral centre.
What is a chiral centre?
Four different groups attached to a carbon atom.
What does a curly arrow show?
The movement of an electron pair, showing either the breaking or formation of a covalent bond.
What is a radical?
A species with an unpaired electron.
What is homolytic fission?
The breaking of a covalent bond where each of the bonded atoms retains one electron from the bonded pair of electrons.
What is heterolytic fission?
The breaking of a covalent bond where one of the bonded atoms retains both of the electrons from the bonded pair of electrons.
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound of hydrogen and carbon only.
What is a homologous series?
A series of organic compound having the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2.
What is a saturated compound?
A compound with only single bonds.
What is an unsaturated compound?
A compound with one or more double or triple bonds.
What is the empirical formula?
The simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a compound.
What is the molecular formula?
The actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule.
What is a functional group?
A functional group is a specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions and properties of that molecule.
What is a catalyst?
A substance which speeds up the reaction without being consumed by the overall reaction.
What is volatility?
The ease that a liquid turns into a gas (increases as boiling point decreases).
What is reflux?
The continuous boiling and condensing of a reaction mixture.
What is the equation for atom economy?
(Mr of desired product / Mr of all products ) x 100
What is substitution?
A reaction in which an atom or group of atoms is replaced by another atom or group of atoms.
What is the general formula of an amino acid?
RCH(NH2)COOH
What is condensation polymerisation?
The joining of monomers with the elimination of a small molecule such as water.
What is hydrolysis?
The breaking of a bond by its reaction with water or hydroxide ion.
What is chromatography?
An analytical technique that separates components in a mixture between a mobile phase and a stationary phase.
What is the mobile phase?
The phase which moves - may be a liquid (LC) or a gas (GC).
What is the stationary phase?
The phase that does not move and may be a solid (TLC) or a liquid on solid support (GC).
What is the equation for calculating the Rf value?
Rf = distance moved by the component from base line / distance moved by solvent front from base line
What is retention time?
The time taken for a component to pass from the column inlet to the detector.
What is a molecule?
A small number of atoms joined together with covalent bonds.
What is an alkyl group?
Side chain with the formula CnH2n+1.
What is an aliphatic compound?
A compound containing carbon and hydrogen joined together in straight chains, branched chains or non-aromatic rings.
What is an alicyclic compound?
An aliphatic compound arranged in non-aromatic rings or without side chains.
What is an aromatic compound?
A compound containing a benzene ring.
What is a sigma bond?
Direct overlap of orbitals.
What is a pi bond?
Sideways overlap of p-orbitals.
What is fractional distillation?
The separation of a liquid mixture into fractions with different boiling points. The most volatile components are removed first.