Structure and Stereochemistry of Alkanes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and concepts related to the structure and stereochemistry of alkanes.

Hydrocarbons

Molecules made of carbon and hydrogen only.

Alkanes

Saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2.

Isomers

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures.

IUPAC Naming

A systematic method for naming chemical compounds based on standard rules.

Conformation

Different arrangements of atoms in a molecule caused by rotation about a single bond.

Torsional Strain

Resistance to rotation caused by eclipsing interactions between groups.

Ring Strain

Strain in a cyclic structure caused by angle and torsional strain.

Cycloalkanes

Rings of carbon atoms with the general formula CnH2n.

Substituents

Atoms or groups of atoms that replace hydrogen in a hydrocarbon.

Cis-Trans Isomerism

Isomers where substituents differ in their positioning relative to a double bond or ring.

Steric Strain

Increased energy due to two bulky groups being too close together.

Newman Projection

A way to visualize conformations by looking down the bond connecting two atoms.

Branched Alkanes

Alkanes with chains that have one or more branches, affecting their physical properties.

Gauche Conformer

A staggered conformation where substituents are 60 degrees apart.

Anti Conformer

A staggered conformation where substituents are 180 degrees apart.

Boiling Point Trend

Boiling points increase with the number of carbon atoms in alkanes.

Melting Point Trend

Melting points generally increase with the number of carbon atoms, but can vary due to branching.