Basic Concepts and Hydrocarbons

• Molecular formula is the exact number if atoms of each element present in the molecule
• Empirical Formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in the molecule
• General formula represents any member of a homologous series
• Alkane General Formula: CnH2n+2
• Alkene general formula: CnH2n
• Saturated compounds only contain C-C covalent bonds
• Unsaturated compounds contain C=C covalent bonds
• Aliphatic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen joined together in straight chains, branched chains and non-aromatic rings
• Alicyclic compounds are aliphatic compounds arranged in non-aromatic rings with or without side chains
• Aromatic compounds are compounds containing a benzene ring
• What are the eight homologous series?

  Alkane, alkene, alcohol, haloalkane, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, ester
• What is the pattern present in the general formula of different homologous series?

  All start as CnH2n+2, for each C with a double bond remove two Hs, for each alicyclic ring remove two Hs
• The general formula for an alcohol is CnH2nOH
• Three types of structural isomerism: Chain, Positional and Functional Group
• Structural isomers have the same molecular formula but different structural formula
• What is homolyctic fission?

  A covalent bond breaks and each bonding atom receives one electron from the bonded pair, forming two radicals
• Radical: A species with an unpaired electron
• A curly arrow represents the movement of an electron pair