basic concepts of organic chemistry

• Nomenclature means 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, where carbon atoms not drawn are assumed to have all unspecified bonds as C-H
• Homologous series is a series of organic compounds having the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2
• Functional group is a group of atoms responsible for characteristic reactions of a compound
• Aliphatic hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a straight line or branched chain
• Alicyclic hydrocarbon is hydrocarbons arranged in non-aromatic rings with or without side chains
• Aromatic hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon that contains at least one benzene ring
• Suffixes:

  • No double bonds: -ane
  • At least one double bond: -ene
  • An alcohol: -ol
  • An aldehyde: -al
  • A ketone: -one
  • A carboxylic acid: -oic acid
• Prefixes:

  • CH3 group: methyl-
  • C2H5 group: ethyl-
  • C3H7 group: propyl-
  • C4H9 group: butyl-
  • Cl group: chloro-
  • Br group: bromo-
  • I group: iodo-
• General formulas:

  • Alkanes: CnH2n+2
  • Alkenes: CnH2n
  • Alcohols: CnH2n+1OH
• Saturated organic compounds only contain single bonds
• Unsaturated compounds are organic compounds that contain at least one carbon-carbon double covalent bond
• Structural isomerism is when molecules have the same molecular formula but different structural formula
• Three ways structural isomers can be formed:

  1. Alkyl groups can be in different places

  2. Functional groups can be bonded to different parts

  3. There can be different functional groups
• Stereoisomers are organic compounds with the same molecular formula but have a different arrangement of atoms in space
• 1. E-Z isomerism is caused by limited rotation about C=C double bonds. E and Z isomers are differentiated by the position of the two substituents with the highest molecular mass relative to the double bond
  2. Z= same side
  3. E=different sides
• Cis-trans isomerism is a special type of E/Z isomerism where the two substituents on each carbon atom are the same
• Homolytic fission happens when each bonding atom receives one electron from the bonded pair forming two radicals
• Heterolytic fission occurs when one bonding atom receives both electrons from the bonded pair
• Radicals are highly reactive, neutral species
• A covalent bond is formed from two radicals when they collide and the electrons are involved in the bond formation