Organic Vocabulary

• Define a Functional Group:

  The part of an organic molecule responsible for its chemical reactions
• Define a Homologous series:

  A series of organic compounds with the same functional group with the same chemical properties but with each successive member differing by CH2
• Define Hydrocarbons:

  A compound that contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms
• Define Aliphatic:

  Hydrocarbons arranged in straight chains which may contain rings that can be branched, unbranched, saturated, or unsaturated
• Define Alicyclic:

  Hydrocarbons arranged in a non aromatic ring structure that can be saturated or unsaturated with or without side chains
• Define Aromatic:

  Hydrocarbons containing a benzene ring
• Define Saturated:

  contains only singly bonded carbon atoms
• Define Unsaturated:

  contains at least one double or triple bonded carbon atoms
• Alicyclic compounds are also called cyclic compounds
• Define Alkyl Group:

  A hydrocarbon chain with the general formula CnH2n+1
• Define Alkanes:

  A hydrocarbon chain that contains only singly bonded carbon atoms, CnH2n+2
• Define Alkenes:

  A hydrocarbon chain that contains at least one double bonded carbon atoms, CnH2n
• Define Structural Isomers:

  Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae
• Define Chain Isomers:

  Structural isomers that differ by having a different carbon chain
• Define Position Isomers:

  Structural isomers that differ by having the functional group in a different position
• Define Functional Group Isomers:

  Structural isomers that differ by having a different functional group
• Define Alkynes:

  A hydrocarbon chain that contains at least one triple bonded carbon atoms, CnH2n-2
• Define Halogenoalkane:

  A compound that contains a halogen atom and an alkane group