CH 11 basic concepts of organic chemistry

What is a hydrocarbon?

A compound containing hydrogen and carbon only

What is a homologous series?

A family of compounds with similar chemical properties whose successive members differs by the addition of a CH2 group.

What is a functional group?

The part of the organic molecule that is largely responsible for the molecules chemical properties

Why can carbon form a large number of compounds?

• can bond to other atoms forming up to 4 covalent bonds which can be single, double or triple.

• Can form with other carbon molecules to form long chains

What is structural isomerism?

Compounds with same molecular formula but different structural formula

What is homolytic fission?

When a covalent bond breaks and each of the bonded atoms take one of the shared pair of electrons

• each atom now has a single unpaired electrons

• Unpaired electron is a radical

What is a radical?

An atom with an unpaired electron

What is heterocyclic fission?

When a covalent bond breaks and one of the bonded atoms takes both of the electrons from the bond.

• the atom that takes both electrons becomes a negative ion

• Atom that does take take them becomes a positive ion.

What is an addition reaction?

2 reactants join together to form one product

What is a substitution reaction?

An atom or group of atoms is replaced by a different atom or group of atoms.

What is an elimination reaction?

The removal of a small molecule from a larger one. One reactant molecule forms 2 products.

What is a nucleophile

A species that forms by donating an electron pair.

What is an electrophile?

A species that is electron-deficient and has an attraction to electron-rich regions.