Chemistry - Basics of Organic Chemistry

• Empirical formula: 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: A type of formula drawn as lines with each vertex being a carbon atom. Carbon atoms not drawn, assumed each C atom has all unspecified bonds as C-H
• Homologous series: A series of organic compounds having the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2
• Functional group: A group of atoms responsible for characteristic reactions of a compound
• Aliphatic hydrocarbon: Hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a straight line or branched chain
• Alicyclic hydrocarbon: Hydrocarbons arranged in non-aromatic rings with or without side chains
• Aromatic hydrocarbon: 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 formula of alkanes: CnH2n+2
• General formula of alkenes: CnH2n
• General formula of alcohols: CnH2n+1OH
• Saturated: Organic compounds which only contain single bonds
• Unsaturated compounds: Organic compounds that contain at least one carbon-carbon double covalent bond
• Structural isomerism: When molecules have the same molecular formula but different structural formula
• 3 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: Organic compounds with the same molecular formula but have different arrangement of atoms in space
• 1. Z isomerism: Caused by limited rotation about C=C double bonds. E and Z isomers are differentiated based on the position of the two substituents with the highest molecular mass relative to the double bond
• Cis-trans isomerism: 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: When one bonding atom receives both electrons from the bonded pair
• Radicals: Highly reactive, neutral species
• Covalent bond formation from two radicals: The radicals collide and the electrons are involved in the bond formation