Organic Chem definitions (Chemistry)

Hydrocarbon

a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms

Saturated compound

a compound in which all the bonds between carbon atoms are single bonds

Unsaturated compound

a compound in which there is at least one double and/or triple bond between carbon atoms

Functional group

an atom or group of atoms that form the centre of chemical activity in the molecule

Homologous series

a series of similar compounds which have the same functional group and have the same general formula, in which each member differs from the previous one by a single CH2 unit

Structural isomers

compounds having the same molecular formula but different structural formulae

Functional group isomerism

These molecules have the same molecular formula but different functional groups

Chain isomerism

These molecules have the same molecular formula, but their chain lengths differ

Positional isomerism

These molecules have the same molecular formula, but the position of the functional group on the main chain is different

Electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of atoms to attract a bonding pair of electrons

Substitution reactions

reactions when one atom or molecular fragment is replaced in a molecule by another