Plant Biology and Organic Chemistry Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering plant photosynthesis, autumnal leaf abscission, hydrocarbon classes (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatics), stereoisomerism, IUPAC naming rules, alcohol chemistry, and pigment chromatography.

Photosynthesis (Fotosynthese)

The biological process by which plants generate energy and produce glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$) and oxygen ($O_2$) from carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), water ($H_2O$), and light energy.

Chloroplasts (Chloroplasten)

Organelles situated inside the leaf that contain chlorophyll (leaf green / Blattgrün) to facilitate photosynthesis.

Stomata (Spaltöffnungen)

Specialized microscopic leaf pores that perform gas exchange by absorbing carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and releasing oxygen ($O_2$) into the atmosphere.

Cork Layer (Korkschicht)

A separating layer developed by trees in autumn to sever the water supply lines to leaves, causing them to turn brown and fall off.

Organic Chemistry (Organische Chemie)

The field of chemistry centered on carbon compounds composed primarily of carbon ($C$) and hydrogen ($H$), frequently supplemented by oxygen ($O$), nitrogen ($N$), sulfur ($S$), phosphorus ($P$), and halogens.

Saturated Hydrocarbons (Gesättigte Kohlenwasserstoffe)

Hydrocarbons, such as alkanes, in which all outer valence electrons participate in single bonds with no multiple bonds present.

Alkanes (Alkane)

Nonpolar saturated hydrocarbons with single bonds whose melting points, boiling points, and viscosities increase with longer carbon chain lengths.

Viscosity (Viskosität)

The thickness or internal friction of a fluid product, which increases systematically with expanding alkane chain lengths.

Methane (Methan)

The simplest alkane ($CH_4$), serving as the principal component of natural gas (Erdgas).

Alkenes (Alkene)

Unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond ($C=C$) that restricts free rotation between carbon atoms, described by the general formula $C_n H_{2n}$.

E/Z-Isomerism (E/Z-Isomerie)

A form of stereoisomerism across a double bond where 'E' (entgegen) indicates substituents situated on opposite sides and 'Z' (zusammen) indicates substituents on the same side above or below the double bond.

Alkynes (Alkine)

Unsaturated, nonpolar, unstable, and highly flammable hydrocarbons featuring at least one carbon-carbon triple bond ($C \equiv C$), defined by the formula $C_n H_{2n-2}$ and the suffix '-in'.

Ethene (Ethen / Ethylen)

A colorless and odorless gaseous alkene emitted naturally by ripening apples, which induces rapid ripening in nearby fruit.

Ethyne (Ethin / Acetylen)

The primary alkyne, consisting of a colorless gas with a faint sweet smell used in welding due to its luminous, heavily sooting flame reaching temperatures of $3100\,^\circ\text{C}$.

Benzene (Benzen)

A toxic and carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbon ($C_6H_6$) featuring a ring structure of delocalized electrons, providing the characteristic odor of gasoline and utilized in nylon production.

IUPAC Nomenclature (IUPAC-Nomenklatur)

A universally recognized standard and rule set employed to assign systematic and unambiguous names to chemical compounds.

Branched Alkanes (Verzweigte Alkane)

Alkanes featuring side alkyl branches attached to the main carbon chain, occurring in structures containing four or more carbon atoms (such as 2-Methylbutane or 2,2-Dimethylbutane).

Methanol (Methylalkohol)

A colorless and poisonous liquid alcohol possessing a boiling point of $65\,^\circ\text{C}$.

Ethanol (Ethylalkohol)

A colorless liquid alcohol with a burning taste and a boiling point of $78\,^\circ\text{C}$, produced predominantly by fermentation and utilized in cosmetics, disinfectants, and beverages.

Methylated Spirits (Spiritus)

A low-cost cleaning alcohol solution containing $96\%$ denatured ethanol that possesses dirt- and grease-dissolving properties and is exempt from beverage alcohol tax.

Bioethanol (Biosprit)

Ethanol produced from renewable raw materials whose combustion produces net-zero direct $CO_2$ emissions, though indirect $CO_2$ emissions emerge throughout its production chain.

Promille ($‰$)

The concentration unit applied to quantify alcohol levels in blood, with measurable physiological and motor impairment commencing at $0.5‰$.

Leaf Pigment Chromatography (Blattfarbstoff-Chromatographie)

An analytical separation technique conducted starting $4\,\text{cm}$ above the paper edge, where pigments separate vertically into beta-carotenes, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b.

Beta-Carotene (Beta-Carotin)

The photosynthetic leaf pigment that migrates the greatest distance upward along the chromatographic strip.