Basic organic

• What is a functional group in organic chemistry?

  The part of a molecule that determines reactions
• What is a homologous series in organic chemistry?

  A series with the same functional group
• What type of bonds do carbon atoms form?

  Four covalent bonds
• How many covalent bonds do hydrogen atoms form?

  One covalent bond
• How many covalent bonds do oxygen atoms form?

  Two covalent bonds
• What are the two parts of alcohol molecules?

  • Hydrocarbon chain: carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen
  • Alcohol group: oxygen atom bonded to hydrogen
• What is the hydrocarbon chain in organic molecules?

  A chain of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen
• What is the alcohol group in organic molecules?

  An oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom
• Why do alcohols react in a similar way?

  They all contain the same functional group
• What is the definition of a functional group?

  The part of a molecule that determines reactions
• What does it mean for members of a homologous series to have an additional $CH_2$?


  Each member has one extra carbon and two hydrogens
• How does ethanol compare to methanol in terms of structure?

  Ethanol has one extra carbon and two hydrogens
• How does propane-1-ol compare to ethanol in terms of structure?

  Propane-1-ol has one extra carbon and two hydrogens
• What is the functional group in chloroalkanes?

  The chlorine atom
• How do members of a homologous series differ?

  By an additional $CH_2$ group
• What process can alkanes undergo to react?

  Free radical substitution
• Why are alkanes considered unreactive molecules?

  They are non-polar and have strong bonds
• What type of molecules are alkanes?

  Non-polar molecules
• What causes alkanes to be non-polar?

  Similar electronegativity of carbon and hydrogen
• What makes the bonds in alkanes strong?

  They require a lot of energy to break
• What is a free radical?

  A species with an unpaired electron
• Why are free radicals highly reactive?

  They have unpaired electrons
• What happens in the reaction between methane and bromine?

  A hydrogen atom is substituted with bromine
• What are the three stages of free radical substitution?

  • Initiation
  • Propagation
  • Termination
• What occurs during the initiation stage of free radical substitution?

  Ultraviolet light breaks bromine bonds
• What is homolytic fission?

  Breaking a bond to form free radicals
• What does the bromine free radical do in propagation step 1?

  It takes a hydrogen atom from methane
• What is free radical substitution?

  A reaction involving free radicals replacing atoms
• What is produced in propagation step 1?

  Hydrogen bromide and methyl free radical
• What happens in propagation step 2?

  Methyl free radical reacts with bromine
• How do propagation steps form a chain reaction?

  Free radicals regenerate and continue reacting
• What occurs during the termination stage?

  Two free radicals form a stable molecule
• What can two bromine free radicals form in termination?

  A bromine molecule
• What can two methyl free radicals form in termination?

  An ethane molecule
• What can a methyl free radical and a bromine free radical form?

  A bromomethane molecule
• What is a major problem with free radical substitution?

  It produces a range of side products
• What can happen if a bromine free radical reacts with bromo methane?

  Dibromomethane can be produced
• What can occur with longer chain alkanes during free radical substitution?

  A variety of products and isomers can form
• What do some teachers use to describe free radical substitution?

  Curly half arrows
• Which exam boards do not require curly half arrows?

  AQA, Edexcel, and OCR