4.1.1 - basics of organic chemistry

• Nomenclature is the system used for naming organic compounds
• Empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a molecule
• Molecular formula provides the actual number of atoms of different elements in a molecule
• Displayed formula shows every atom and every bond in a molecule
• Structural formula shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule without showing every bond
• Skeletal formula is drawn as lines with each vertex being a carbon atom. carbon atoms arent drawn and are assumed each C atom has unspecifiec bonds as C-H
• Homologous series is a series of organic compounds having the same functional group with each successive member differing by CH2
• A functional group is a group of atoms responsible for characteristic reactions of a compound
• An aliphatic hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a straight line, branched chain, non-aromatic ring
• An alicyclic hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon arranged in non aromatic rings with or without side chains
• The suffixes for

  no double bonds = -ane

  at least one double bond = -ene

  An alcohol = -ol

  an aldehyde = -al

  a ketone = -one

  a carboxylic acid = -oic acid
• The general formula for alkanes is CnH2n+2
• the general formula for alkenes is CnH2n
• The genera; formula for alcohols is Cn H2n+1 OH
• Unsaturated compounds are organic compounds that contain at least one carbon carbon double covalent bond
• Structural isomers can be formed in three ways

  1. alkyl groups can be in different places
  2. functional groups can be bonded to different parts
  3. there can be different functional groups
• Radicals are highly reactive neutral species
• A covalent bond forms from two radicals as the radicals collide and the free electrons are involved in the bond formation.
• Stereoisomers are organic compounds with the same molecular formula but have different arrangement of atoms in space
• E/z isomerism is caused by the limited rotation about C=C double bonds
• The E isomer is when the two substituents of the same molecular mass are on opposite sides of the double bond
• Cis-trans isomerism is A type of E/Z isomerism Where the two substituents on each carbon atom are the same.