Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Functional Groups

This set of flashcards summarizes key vocabulary and concepts related to organic chemistry, specifically focusing on functional groups and their properties.

Functional Groups

Atoms or groups that have characteristic chemical and physical properties, affecting the reactivity of molecules.

Heteroatom

Any atom in a molecule that is not carbon or hydrogen, affecting the functionality.

Polar

Having a difference in electrical charge distribution, which results in regions of partial positive and negative charges.

Acidic Proton

A proton that can be donated in a reaction, facilitating acidity of a molecule.

Hydrogen Bonding

A strong type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when hydrogen is covalently bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine.

Alkane

A hydrocarbon consisting only of single bonds between carbon atoms.

Alkene

A hydrocarbon that contains at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

Alkyne

A hydrocarbon that contains at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

Carbonyl Group

A functional group characterized by a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom.

Amines

Organic compounds containing nitrogen, which can act as bases due to the presence of lone pairs.

Hydrophobic Interactions

Interactions that occur between nonpolar molecules in an aqueous environment, leading to a tendency for these molecules to aggregate.

Esters

Organic compounds formed from an acid and an alcohol by a condensation reaction, involving a carbonyl group adjacent to an ether link.

Nomenclature

The system of naming chemical compounds based on their structure and functional groups.

Boiling Point

The temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the external pressure surrounding the liquid, causing it to transition into gas.