Week 13 - Organic Molecules

Alcohol

An organic compound with a hydroxyl group ($-OH$) attached to a carbon.

Electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.

Hydrogen Bonding

A type of weak chemical bond that is formed when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom is also attracted to another electronegative atom.

Base treatment

The process of using a strong base to deprotonate a compound, typically affecting the hydroxyl group in alcohols.

pKb value

A measure of the basicity of a substance; the lower the pKb, the stronger the base.

Primary alcohol

An alcohol where the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached to a carbon atom that is bonded to only one other carbon.

Secondary alcohol

An alcohol where the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached to a carbon that is bonded to two other carbons.

Tertiary alcohol

An alcohol where the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached to a carbon that is bonded to three other carbons.

Phenol

An aromatic compound where a hydroxyl group is directly attached to a benzene ring.

Aromaticity

A property of cyclic molecules that exhibit resonance and stability due to the delocalization of electrons.

Conjugation

The overlap of p-orbitals in a molecule, allowing for delocalization of electrons.

Oxidation

The process of increasing the oxidation state of an atom, often involving the addition of oxygen or the removal of hydrogen.

Reduction

The process of decreasing the oxidation state of an atom, often involving the addition of hydrogen or the removal of oxygen.

Amine

An organic compound derived from ammonia ($NH_3$) by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms with organic groups.

Affinity

The tendency of a substance to undergo a chemical reaction or to interact with another substance.

Polymer

A large molecule composed of repeating structural units (monomers), typically connected by covalent chemical bonds.

Condensation polymerization

A method of forming polymers by joining monomers with the elimination of small molecules, commonly water.

Addition polymerization

A polymerization process in which monomers are added together without the loss of any small molecules.

Biodegradable polymer

A type of plastic that can decompose naturally in the environment through the action of living organisms.

Hydrolysis

A reaction involving the breaking of a bond in a molecule using water.

Thioester

A compound containing a sulfur atom bonded to an acyl group ($R-CO$).

Carboxylic acid

An organic compound containing a carboxyl group ($-COOH$) which is acidic in nature.

Aldehyde

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group ($C=O$) at the end of a carbon chain.

Ketone

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group ($C=O$) located between two carbon atoms.

Acyl chloride

A compound derived from a carboxylic acid by replacing the hydroxyl group with a chloride.

Amide

An organic compound featuring a carbonyl group ($C=O$) linked to a nitrogen atom ($N$).