H Chemistry - Unit 2 - 2h - Fragrances

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are concentrated extracts of volatile, non water soluble aroma compounds from plants. They are mixtures of many different compounds.

What are uses of essential oils?

Essential oils are widely used in perfumes, cosmetic products, cleaning products, and as flavouring in foods.

What are terpenes?

Terpenes are key components in most essential oils. They are unsaturated compounds formed by joining together isoprene units.

What is isoprene’s systematic name?

Isoprene’s systematic name is 2-methylbuta-1,3-diene

What is isoprene’s structure?

Isoprene’s structure;

What can terpenes be oxidised within plants to produce?

Terpenes can be oxidised within plants to produce some of the compounds responsible for the distinctive aromas of spices.

How many carbons does an isoprene unit contain?

An isoprene unit contains 5 carbons.

How do you find out how many isoprene units are in a terpene?

To find out the number of isoprene units in a terpene, divide the number of carbons in the terpene by 5.