Families of Organic Compounds

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on families of organic compounds.

Organic chemistry

The study of carbon-based compounds.

Functional group

An atom, group of atoms, or bond that gives a molecule a specific set of chemical properties.

Hydrocarbons

Compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Alkane

A hydrocarbon with single bonds and a tetrahedral shape at 109.5°.

Alkene

A hydrocarbon with a double bond and a trigonal planar shape at 120°.

Alkyne

A hydrocarbon with a triple bond and a linear shape at 180°.

Heteroatom

Any atom that is not carbon or hydrogen.

Alcohols

Organic compounds with an -OH group attached to an alkane-type carbon.

Phenols

Organic compounds with an -OH group attached to an aromatic ring.

Ethers

Compounds with a C-O-C linkage.

Thiols

Organic compounds with an -SH group attached to an alkane-type carbon.

Sulfides

Compounds with a C-S-C linkage.

Amines

Compounds with a nitrogen atom attached to one or more alkane-type or aromatic carbon atoms.

Alkyl halides

Compounds with a halogen atom attached to an alkane-type carbon.

Carbonyl

A functional group consisting of a C=O bond.

Ketones

Compounds with a carbonyl group attached to two other carbon atoms.

Aldehyde

Compounds with a carbonyl group attached to at least one hydrogen atom.

Aromatic compounds

Compounds containing an aromatic ring, often a benzene ring, characterized by delocalized pi electrons.

Carboxylic acids

Organic compounds containing a carboxyl group (-COOH).

Esters

Organic compounds derived from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, containing a -COO- linkage.

Amides

Organic compounds containing a carbonyl group attached to a nitrogen atom (C(=O)N).

Isomers

Molecules with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms.