Organic Molecules and Functional Groups

Flashcards covering introductory concepts in organic molecules, functional groups, structural representations (Lewis, condensed, line), alkane nomenclature, and solubility principles from the lecture notes.

Organic Molecules

Molecules that consist primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Condensed Structure

An abbreviated or shortened version of a Lewis structure that shows all atoms but omits some or none of the bonds.

Functional Group

A specific pattern of atoms bonded together within a molecule that dictates its physical properties and chemical reactivity.

Lewis Structure

A detailed representation of a molecule that explicitly shows all atoms, all chemical bonds, and all lone pairs.

Line Structure

A condensed representation of organic molecules where carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon are not explicitly drawn, and lines represent bonds.

Alkanes

Organic molecules that contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms, and only single bonds.

Constitutional Isomers

Alkanes that have the same number of carbon and hydrogen atoms but have unique arrangements of those atoms.

Alkyl Halide

An alkane containing a halogen substituent.

Cycloalkane

An alkane where the carbon atoms form a ring structure.

Parent Chain

The longest carbon chain in an alkane, used as the basis for naming.

Substituent

An atom or group of atoms attached to the parent chain of a molecule.

Molecular Formula

A simple list of the atoms present in a molecule that does not convey information about appearance or atom arrangement.

Carbon atoms in Line Structures

Implicitly located at the beginning and end of any line segment, and at every intersection or bend point.

Hydrogen atoms in Line Structures

Inferred; for any carbon, the number of hydrogens is 4 minus the number of visible bonds to that carbon.

Quaternary Carbon

A carbon atom bonded to four other carbon atoms, having 0 hydrogen atoms.

Typical Bonding for Carbon

Forms 4 single bonds, or 1 double and 2 single, or 1 triple and 1 single bond.

Typical Bonding for Hydrogen

Always forms just 1 single bond.

Typical Bonding for Halogens

Typically form just 1 single bond, similar to hydrogen, and include lone pairs.

Typical Bonding for Oxygen

Generally forms 2 single bonds or 1 double bond, always with lone pairs.

Typical Bonding for Nitrogen

Typically forms 3 single bonds, or 1 triple bond, or 1 double and 1 single bond; always with lone pairs.

CH3 Group

A methyl group; a carbon atom bonded to exactly three hydrogen atoms, typically at chain ends or branches.

CH2 Group

A methylene group; a carbon atom bonded to exactly two hydrogen atoms, typically within straight chains or rings.

CH Group

A methine group; a carbon atom bonded to exactly one hydrogen atom, typically at branching points.

Alex's Bond Angle Preference

Alex software prefers 120-degree bond angles for symmetry and aesthetics in drawn structures.

Alkene

Characterized by a carbon atom double-bonded to another carbon atom (C=C).

Alkyne

Characterized by a carbon atom triple-bonded to another carbon atom (C≡C).

Aromatic (Aryl/Benzene)

A ring of six carbon atoms with alternating single and double bonds (conjugated system).

Aldehyde

Features a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O, carbonyl group) with at least one hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon.

Ketone

Features a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O, carbonyl group) where the carbonyl carbon is bonded to a carbon atom on each side.

Carboxylic Acid

Composed of a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O) and a single bond to an oxygen atom which is also attached to a hydrogen (C-OH), often written as -COOH.

Ester

Features a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O) and a single bond to an oxygen atom (-O-) which is attached to another carbon-containing group (not hydrogen).

Amide

Consists of a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O) directly attached to a nitrogen atom (-N-).

Solubility

The ability of molecules to dissolve in or mix well with each other.

'Like Dissolves Like' Principle

States that molecules with similar polarity will dissolve in each other (polar with polar, non-polar with non-polar).

Polar Molecules (Organic Context)

Organic molecules possessing an oxygen or nitrogen atom (at least one) AND having fewer than six carbon atoms (C < 6).

Non-Polar Molecules (Organic Context)

Organic molecules composed only of carbon and hydrogen atoms, or those with more than six carbon atoms (C > 6) irrespective of O/N presence.

Soluble in an Organic Solvent

Terminology for asking whether a molecule is non-polar.

Soluble in Water (H2O)

Terminology for asking whether a molecule is polar.

Heteroatom

Any atom that is not carbon (C) or hydrogen (H) in organic chemistry, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and halogens.

Water Solubility General Rule

A molecule is generally soluble in water if it has 6 or fewer carbon atoms per oxygen or nitrogen atom.