Alkenes & Alkanes

• Learning science is the study of how people learn and the application of scientific principles to improve educational practices.
• Aliphatic compounds contain carbon chains and branches
• Alicyclic compounds are aliphatic compounds arranged in non-aromatic rings
• Aromatic compounds contain one or more benzene rings
• Unsaturated compounds contain double bonds, triple bonds, and aromatic groups
• General formula is the simplest algebraic formula of a member of a homologous series
• Structural formula shows the arrangement of atoms in a molecule with minimal detail
• Displayed formula shows the relative positioning of atoms and bonds
• Skeletal formula is a simplified organic formula removing hydrogens and showing only the carbon skeleton with functional groups
• Molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms in each molecule
• Empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms/ions of each element in a compound
• Homologous series have the same functional group and general formula, differing by CH2 with similar chemical properties and gradual change in physical properties
• An alkyl group is a hydrocarbon branched chain with the formula CnH2n+1
• Structural isomers have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas
• Chain isomers have different structures with a methyl group coming off the middle carbon
• Positional isomers have functional groups attached to different carbons
• Functional group isomers have different functional groups
• Dehydrogenation is the removal of hydrogen
• Elimination reaction is when a molecule is lost from a saturated molecule to form an unsaturated molecule
• Carbocation is a positively charged ion with the positive charge on the Carbon atom
• Electrophile is a lone pair acceptor
• Nucleophile is a lone pair donor
• Free radical is a species with an unpaired electron
• Hydrolysis is the breaking of a bond using water
• Stereoisomers have the same molecular formula and structural formula but a different arrangement of atoms in space
• Petrochemicals are organic compounds made from petroleum, often using alkenes
• Nomenclature involves the main functional group as a suffix or prefix, the longest carbon chain, side chains, and numerical prefixes like di, tri, tetra
• Alkanes are found in crude oil, have a tetrahedral shape, and are non-polar with weak London dispersion forces
• σ bonds result from a direct overlap of orbitals with high electron density and strong electrostatic attraction
• Branching in alkanes leads to lower boiling points and weaker London dispersion forces
• Complete combustion of alkanes produces CO2 and H2O
• Incomplete combustion of alkanes can produce CO
• Heterolytic fission is when a covalent bond breaks unevenly, while homolytic fission is when it breaks evenly
• Free radical substitution involves alkanes and halogens to form haloalkanes
• π bonds result from the sideways overlap of p orbitals and are weaker than σ bonds
• Problems with radical substitutions include the production of a mixture of products and various possible isomers
• Alkenes have a π + σ covalent bond, are reactive, and have a trigonal planar shape
• Restricted rotation of the π bond in alkenes leads to stereoisomers and E-Z isomerism
• Optical isomerism occurs when a carbon has four different groups, leading to non-superimposable mirror images
• Cis-trans isomerism is a special type of E-Z isomerism with identical groups on the same or opposite sides of the double bond