Organic Chemistry and Purification Lab Notes

Flashcards covering the fundamentals of organic chemistry, properties of organic versus inorganic compounds, and specific laboratory purification techniques.

Organic Chemistry

The study of carbon containing compounds and their properties.

Organic Compound Exceptions

Oxides of carbon, carbonates, bicarbonates, and cyanides.

Vital Force Theory

The theory that organic compounds contain a specific force because they are from living sources and could not be synthesized in a laboratory.

Friedrich Wohler

A German chemist who disproved the vital force theory by synthesizing urea from a non-organic source.

Urea

A compound found in blood and urine that was synthesized from ammonium cyanate.

Ammonium Cyanate

The non-organic source used by Friedrich Wohler to synthesize urea.

Synthesize

To make a substance more widely available at a lower cost and to create new substances with new and useful properties.

Biomolecules

Organic compounds found in the body.

Polymers

Materials such as plastics and PVC classified as organic compounds.

Keratin

A structural protein found in hair and fingernails.

Collagen

A structural protein found in the skin, cartilage, ligaments, and eye cornea.

Myosin

A structural protein found in muscles.

Glycoprotein

Proteins attached to carbohydrates found in cartilage and ligaments.

Covalent bonding

The type of bonding characteristic of organic compounds.

Ionic bonding

The type of bonding characteristic of inorganic compounds.

Organic Compound Melting Point

These compounds generally have low melting and boiling points.

Inorganic Compound Melting Point

These compounds generally have high melting and boiling points.

Organic Compound Flammability

These types of compounds burn easily.

Inorganic Compound Flammability

A property where few of these compounds burn in oxygen.

Organic Compound Polarity

These substances are mostly non-polar in nature.

Inorganic Compound Polarity

These substances are mostly polar in nature.

Non-electrolytes

A property of most organic compounds regarding their electrical conductivity.

Electrolytes

A property of most inorganic compounds regarding their electrical conductivity.

Organic Molecule Size

Large molecules containing many atoms.

Inorganic Molecule Size

Small molecules containing few atoms.

Filtration

The first type of purification process described in the laboratory notes.

Decolorization and Crystallization

The second type of purification process described in the laboratory notes.

Dialysis

The third type of purification process described in the laboratory notes.

Filtrate

The liquid that has passed through a filter paper.

Activated Charcoal

A pinch of charcoal used to remove impurities during the crystallization process.

Benzoic Acid

A reagent used along with sodium chloride and Congo red in the purification process.

Sodium Chloride

An inorganic compound ($NaCl$) mixed with benzoic acid in the laboratory.

Congo Red

A reagent added to the mixture of benzoic acid and water during heat treatment.

Buchner Funnel

A piece of equipment where filter paper is placed to filter a mixture while hot.

Ice Water Bath

Used to cool one portion of the filtrate to observe crystal formation.

Dialyzer

An apparatus described as an "artificial kidney" made by taping cellophane around a funnel.

Cellophane

The material used to make a bag for the dialyzer setup.

Dialysate

A solution of pure water, electrolytes, and salts used to remove toxins from the blood; also called dialysis fluid.

Alcoholic Iodine Solution

A reagent used to test for the presence of starch in the dialysate and cellophane bag.

AgNo Solution

A solution used to test for the presence of $NaCl$ in the dialysate.

Salicylic Acid

An organic sample weighed in $\text{g}$ units for the filtration lab.

White Sugar

An organic sample mixed with salicylic acid for experimental purification.

Ethyl Alcohol

A solvent used to test the solubility of the organic mixture in the filtration lab.

Starch Solution

A chemical poured into the dialyzer along with $NaCl$ to study the dialysis process.

DNA

An example of a complex organic compound found in organisms.

Cellulose

An example of a carbohydrate organic compound mentioned in the notes.

Glycogen

An example of a carbohydrate organic compound found in the body.

Anesthetics

A class of organic compounds used as drugs.

Antibiotics

A class of organic compounds used as drugs to fight infections.

Anti-cancer agents

Specific drugs produced as organic compounds to treat cancer.