Intro to organic chem

• What is organic chemistry primarily concerned with?

  The chemistry of carbon compounds
• Why can carbon form a vast number of compounds?

  It can form strong covalent bonds with itself
• What does the ability of carbon to form long chains enable?

  An almost infinite variety of carbon compounds
• What is a homologous series?

  A group of compounds with the same functional group
• How do successive members of a homologous series differ?

  Each differs by CH₂
• Which two compounds belong to the same homologous series?

  Ethanol and propanol
• What are the characteristics of a homologous series?

  • Same functional group
  • Same general formula
  • Similar chemical properties
  • Gradually changing physical properties
  • Increasing molecule size affects physical properties
• What determines the physical and chemical properties of molecules?

  Functional groups
• What are hydrocarbons made up of?

  Carbon and hydrogen atoms only
• Why is ethanol not classified as a hydrocarbon?

  It contains an oxygen atom
• What does the general formula represent?

  A homologous series of compounds
• What is the general formula of alkanes?

  C_nH_2n+2
• What does the structural formula show?

  How atoms are bonded in a molecule
• What is a displayed formula?

  A 2D representation showing all atoms and bonds
• What is a skeletal formula?

  A simplified displayed formula without C-H bonds
• What is systematic nomenclature used for?

  To name organic compounds systematically
• What indicates the number of carbon atoms in a compound's name?

  The stem of the name
• How are side-chains or functional groups indicated in nomenclature?

  By numbering carbon atoms for lowest numbers
• What is an alkyl group?

  A side-chain named by adding ‘-yl’
• How are multiple identical side-chains named?

  Using di-, tri-, or tetra- prefixes
• How are different types of alkyl side-chains listed?

  In alphabetical order
• What are the types of structural isomerism?

  1. Chain isomerism
  2. Positional isomerism
  3. Functional group isomerism
• What are straight-chain organic molecules?

  Carbon atoms connected in one continuous chain
• What defines branched organic molecules?

  Side groups attached to the main chain
• What are cyclic organic molecules?

  Carbon atoms connected in a ring shape
• What are structural isomers?

  Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures
• What is chain isomerism?

  Same molecular formula, different longest chain
• What is positional isomerism?

  Differences in the position of a functional group
• What is functional group isomerism?

  Different functional groups with the same molecular formula
• What are stereoisomers?

  Compounds with the same atoms arranged differently in space
• What is E/Z isomerism?

  Isomers with different arrangements around a double bond
• What do Z isomers have?

  Functional groups on the same side
• What do E isomers have?

  Functional groups on opposite sides
• What is the relationship between cis/trans isomerism and E/Z isomerism?

  Cis is the same as Z, trans is the same as E
• What are the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) priority rules used for?

  To determine E/Z isomerism based on atomic number
• How do you determine E or Z isomerism?

  By applying CIP priority rules to attached atoms
• What does the term "entgegen" mean in E isomerism?

  Opposite
• What does the term "zusammen" mean in Z isomerism?

  Together
• What is the significance of the highest priority groups in E/Z isomerism?

  They determine the isomer's classification as E or Z
• What happens when the highest priority groups are on the same side of the C=C bond?

  The compound is classified as a Z isomer