Organic chemistry keywords

Addition polymerisation

A reaction where many small molecules (monomers) join together to form very large molecules (polymers).

Alcohols

Compounds that contain the functional group –OH; first four members are methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol.

Alkanes

The most common hydrocarbon found in crude oil; general formula CnH2n+2.

Alkenes

Hydrocarbons with a double bond between two carbon atoms; general formula CnH2n.

Amino acids

Molecules that have two different functional groups and react by condensation polymerisation to produce polypeptides.

Carboxylic acids

Compounds with the functional group –COOH; first four members include methanoic acid, ethanoic acid, propanoic acid, and butanoic acid.

Catalytic cracking

A process where long-chain hydrocarbons are heated and passed over a catalyst to split them into smaller molecules.

Combustion

The reaction of hydrocarbon fuels releasing energy through the oxidation of carbon and hydrogen.

Complete combustion

A reaction where water and carbon dioxide are the only products of hydrocarbon combustion.

Crude oil

A finite resource made up of hydrocarbons, formed from the remains of ancient biomass buried in mud.

Condensation polymerisation

Reactions that join monomers with two functional groups, losing small molecules like water.

Cracking

The process of breaking down larger hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful molecules.

DNA

Molecule that encodes genetic instructions for organisms and viruses, typically in the form of a double helix.

Esters

Products formed from the reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.

Fermentation

A chemical process by which glucose is broken down anaerobically; ethanol is produced using yeast.

Fractional distillation

A method for separating mixtures based on different boiling points, commonly used for crude oil.

Homologous series

A series of compounds with the same functional group and similar chemical properties.

Hydrocarbons

Molecules comprised solely of hydrogen and carbon atoms.

Nucleotides

The monomers that make up DNA.

Polyesters

Polymers with the ester functional group in their main chain, formed through condensation polymerisation.

Polymers

Large molecules formed from many small monomers joined by covalent bonds.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids.

Repeat unit

The part of a polymer whose repetition creates the complete polymer chain.

Steam cracking

A process where long-chain hydrocarbons are heated and mixed with steam to produce smaller molecules.