Definitions paper 2

• Stereoisomers

  Molecules that share the same structural formula but have a different 3d arrangement of atoms
• Geometric isomers

  Two different groups attached to each carbon of c=c
• biodegradable

  A substance that can be broken down in the environment by the action of microbes
• Rates of reaction

  Change in concentration / time taken
• Catalyst

  A species that speeds up a chemical reaction by offering an alternative reaction pathway of lower activation energy
• Hydrocarbon

  Species that contains only hydrogen and carbon
• Saturated

  Contains only single bonds between carbon atoms
• Unsaturated

  Contains at least one double bond between carbon atoms
• Substitution

  Swapping an atom for another atom or groups of atom
• Nucleophile

  Electron pair donor
• Free radical

  Species with an unpaired electron
• Addition

  Adding one species to an organic molecule and forming one product
• Monomer

  Smaller molecules which can add together to form a longer chain molecule
• plasticiser

  Additives mixed into polymers to imp their flexibility
• Polymer

  A long chain of repeating monomers
• Electrophille

  Electron pair acceptor
• Elimination

  A reaction where a small molecule is removed from the larger organic molecule
• Hydration

  The addition of water to a molecule
• Hydrolysis

  The splitting of a molecule by a reaction with water
• Carbon neutral

  An activity that has no net annual carbon emissions to the atmosphere
• Structural isomerism

  Molecules that have the same molecular formula but a different structure
• Position isomers

  Location of functional group differs on the carbon chain
• Chain isomer

  The branching of the chain varies
• Functional group isomer

  Different functional groups