Basic concepts of organic chemistry and hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons

Compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Nomenclature

A set of rules that outline how different organic compounds should be named and how their formulas are represented.

IUPAC

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; the organization that provides the naming conventions for chemical compounds.

Functional group

A group of atoms responsible for the characteristic reactions of a compound.

Alkyl group

A hydrocarbon chain with the general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₁, which results from removing one hydrogen atom from an alkane.

Saturated compound

A compound that contains only single carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds.

Unsaturated compound

A compound that contains one or more double or triple carbon-carbon bonds.

Isomerism

Molecules with the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms within the molecule.

Addition reaction

A reaction where the reactants combine to form a single product.

Electrophilic addition

A reaction mechanism that shows how electrophiles attack the double bond in alkenes.

Cyclic compounds

Compounds that contain carbon atoms arranged in a ring structure.

Displayed formula

The representation of the relative positioning of atoms and the bonds between them, showing every atom and every bond.

Structural formula

A formula that shows the minimal detail about the arrangement of atoms in a molecule.

General formula

The simplest algebraic formula of a member of a homologous series.

Homologous series

A series of organic compounds with the same functional group but differing by CH2.

Chain isomers

Isomers that differ in the arrangement of the carbon skeleton.

Cis-trans isomerism

A type of stereoisomerism involving geometrical isomers with the same connectivity but different spatial arrangements.

Catalytic converter

A device that uses a catalyst to convert harmful products into more stable products such as CO2, N2, or H2O.

Combustion of alkanes

A reaction where alkanes burn in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, or incomplete products in limited oxygen.

Polymers

Large molecules formed by repeating units of smaller molecules called monomers.

Electrophile

An electron pair acceptor that is attracted to areas of high electron density.

Chain reaction

A series of reactions in which the product of one reaction leads to further reactions.

Bromine water test

A test used to identify alkenes; it turns from orange-brown to colorless when a double bond reacts.

Fission

The process of breaking a covalent bond.

Diol

An alcohol compound that contains two hydroxyl (–OH) functional groups.

Curly arrow

A symbol used in reaction mechanisms to indicate the movement of electron pairs.