Intro to Organic

• The functional group of a molecule is the group of atoms that's responsible for its characterictic reactions.
• Molecular formula- the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule.
• Structural formula- shows the atoms carbon by carbon, with the attached hydrogens and functional groups.
• Displayed formula- how all the atoms are arranged, and all the bonds between them.
• Empirical formula- the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.
• General formula- can describe any member of a family of compounds.
• Homologous series- a family of compounds that have the same functional group and genral formula.
• Skeletal formula- shows the bonds of the carbon skeleton only, with any functional groups. Hydrogen and carbon atoms are not shown.
• Alkanes- have the general formula CnH2n+2. Every carbon atom in an alkane has four single bonds with other atoms so they are saturated.
• Haloalkanes- at least one of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a halogen atom.
• Cycloalkanes- ring of carbon atoms with two hydrogens attached to each carbon. General formula CnH2n but they are still saturated.
• Branched alkanes- an alkane that doesn't have all the carbon atoms in one straight chain. These branches are called alkyl groups.
• Alkene- a hydrocarbon with a carbon-carbon double bond with the general formula CnH2n, they are unsaturated which makes them fairly reactive.
• Alkyne- a hydrocarbon with a carbon-carbon triple bond with the general formula CnH2n-2, they are very reactive due to their triple bond.
• Alcohols- organic molecules that contain the -OH functional group. General formula CnH2n+1OH. They can be reacted to give alkenes.
• Aldehydes- one of the end carbons has a double bond to an oxygen atom and a single bond to a hydrogen atom. Suffix -al and general formula R-CHO where R is an alkyl group or a H atom.
• Ketones- both ends of the molecule have a double bond to an oxygen atom. Suffix -one and general formula RCOR'.
• Ketones- both ends of the molecule have a double bond to an oxygen atom. Suffix -one and general formula RCOR'.
• Carboxylic acids- contain the carboxyl functional group COOH, suffix -oic acid and genral formula R-COOH where R is an alkyl group.
• Structural isomers- have the same molecular formula, but a different structural formula due to rotation of atoms around a single C-C bond. Three types: chain isomers, position isomers, and functional group isomers.
• Chain isomers- same functional group but different arrangements of the carbon skeleton. Some are straight chains and others are branched in different ways.
• Position isomers- same skeleton and the same atoms or groups of atoms attached. The atoms or groups of atoms are attached to different carbon atoms.
• Functional group isomers- same atoms arranged into different function groups.
• Stereoisomers- same structural formula, but their atoms are arranged differently in space.
• Carbon atoms in a C=C double bond are planar as the atoms bonded to the carbons all lie in the same plane. The bond angles in the planar unit are all 120 degrees.
• E/Z isomers- because atoms can't rotate around the C=C double bond, alkenes can for E (opposite) isomers and Z (together) isomers.
• Cahn-Ingold-Prelog priority rules:

  • assign priority to the two atoms attached to each side of the double bond
  • the atom with the higher atomic number on each carbon is given the higher priority
• • Boiling point of alkanes increase with chain length because the intermolecular forces between the molecules increase
  • Branched alkanes have lower boiling points as there is reduced contact between the molecules
• Mechanisms:

  • a curly arrow is used the show the movement of a pair of electrons OR the breaking of a bond
• A free radical is a molecule or atom with an unpaired electron, they are very reactive