Organic Molecules and Polymers Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering organic chemistry nomenclature, functional groups, molecular depictions, and polymer classifications based on the lecture notes.

Covalent bonding

A type of bonding that occurs between non-metals or between metalloids and non-metals where the unit is a molecule.

Meth-

The organic chemistry prefix used to indicate the presence of 1 carbon atom.

Eth-

The organic chemistry prefix used to indicate the presence of 2 carbon atoms.

Prop-

The organic chemistry prefix used to indicate the presence of 3 carbon atoms.

But-

The organic chemistry prefix used to indicate the presence of 4 carbon atoms.

Organic compounds

Compounds mainly made of $C$ and $H$, sometimes with $O$, $N$, $P$, and $S$, where carbon is the main element of focus.

Structural formula

A depiction of a molecule that shows all atoms, with lines representing pairs of shared atoms.

Skeletal (Bond-line) formula

A depiction where lines are drawn at angles, $C$ atoms are at each corner or line end, and $H$ atoms are inferred to facilitate a total of 4 bonds to each carbon.

Aliphatic

A classification for most hydrocarbons where carbons are linked together in chains with single, double, or triple bonds.

Aromatic

Hydrocarbons that are based on a benzene ring.

Alkanes

Saturated hydrocarbons containing only single bonds between carbon atoms.

Alkenes

Unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain double bonds ($C=C$) between carbon atoms.

Alkynes

Unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain triple bonds between carbon atoms.

Alcohols

Organic compounds containing oxygen and hydrogen atoms on a branch, typically with names ending in "-ol."

Ethers

Molecules featuring one oxygen atom within a carbon chain ($R-O-R'$), typically used as solvents.

Carbonyl group

A functional group containing a carbon double bonded to an oxygen atom ($C=O$).

Aldehydes

Compounds where the carbonyl group is at the end of a carbon chain, bonded to at least one hydrogen atom ($R-CHO$).

Ketones

Molecules where the carbonyl ($C=O$) carbon is bound to two other carbon atoms.

Carboxylic acids

Organic acids where the carbonyl carbon is attached to a hydroxyl group ($R-COOH$).

Esters

Compounds similar to carboxylic acids where the $H$ of the hydroxyl group is replaced with a carbon, often known for pleasant odors.

Amines

Organic compounds containing nitrogen ($RNH_2$), often associated with the smell of rotten fish.

Amides

Compounds where the carbonyl carbon is bound to a nitrogen atom, such as in the mosquito repellent DEET.

Polymerization

The process of forming exceedingly long organic molecules that contain a repeating molecular unit.

Monomer

The single molecular unit that repeats to form a polymer.

Addition Polymers

Polymers formed by joining monomer units where a $C-C$ double bond is converted into single bonds, such as in $PE$, $PP$, or $PVC$.

Condensation Polymers

Polymers formed by the loss of a fragment (such as $H_2O$ or $HCl$) during the process of joining monomers, such as Nylon or Bakelite.

Vulcanization

A process discovered by Charles Goodyear in 1839 where natural rubber and sulfur are heated together to yield stronger material and elasticity.

Bakelite

A polymer developed from tar in 1907 that led to the use of the term "plastics."