Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons and Functional Groups

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering aromatic compounds, alcohols, phenols, thiols, alkane substituents, cis-trans isomerism, and addition reactions.

Benzene

An aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of a flat six-carbon ring with six hydrogen atoms ($C_6H_6$) and delocalized double bond electrons, represented structurally with alternating double bonds or a circle in the center.

Aromatic Compound

An organic compound that contains a benzene ring or a related unsaturated ring structure with shared, delocalized electrons.

August Kekulé

The chemist who proposed in 1865 that the carbon atoms in benzene are arranged in a flat ring with alternating single and double bonds between adjacent carbon atoms.

Phenyl Group

A benzene ring acting as a substituent group attached to a main carbon chain, designated as $\text{-C}_6\text{H}_5$.

Toluene

The common IUPAC-accepted name for methylbenzene, an aromatic compound used as a industrial reactant to produce drugs, dyes, and explosives such as TNT.

Phenol

An organic compound consisting of a hydroxyl group ($\text{-OH}$) bonded directly to a carbon atom of a benzene ring.

Aniline

The common IUPAC-accepted name for aminobenzene, consisting of an amino substituent ($\text{-NH}_2$) attached to a benzene ring.

Xylene

The common name used for the structural isomers of dimethylbenzene (o-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene).

Ortho, Meta, Para Prefixes

Prefixes (o-, m-, p-) used in naming disubstituted benzene rings to denote substituent locations at carbons 1,2 (ortho), 1,3 (meta), and 1,4 (para).

Alcohol

An organic compound containing a hydroxyl functional group ($\text{-OH}$) attached to a saturated carbon atom.

Thiol

A family of sulfur-containing organic compounds containing a sulfhydryl functional group ($\text{-SH}$), also known as mercaptans.

Methanol

The simplest alcohol ($CH_3\text{-OH}$), widely used as a solvent and paint remover, which is oxidized in the human body to toxic formaldehyde.

Ethanol

An alcohol ($CH_3\text{-CH}_2\text{-OH}$) produced by the fermentation of sugars ($C_6H_{12}O_6 \rightarrow 2CH_3\text{-CH}_2\text{-OH} + 2CO_2$) and used as a solvent, medicine carrier, and beverage alcohol.

Ethylene Glycol

The common name for 1,2-ethanediol, a toxic diol used as an antifreeze in heating and cooling systems that oxidizes to oxalic acid in the kidney upon ingestion.

Bisphenol A (BPA)

A phenolic compound used in manufacturing polycarbonate plastics, which can leach into liquids when bottles are washed at high temperatures or with harsh detergents.

Methanethiol

A sulfur-containing thiol compound ($CH_3\text{-SH}$) responsible for the characteristic odor of oysters, cheddar cheese, onions, and garlic.

Lachrymator

A substance that causes eyes to tear, such as 1-propanethiol present in onions.

Structural Isomers

Organic compounds that possess identical molecular formulas but differ in the atom connectivity and bonding arrangement.

Substituents

Atoms or groups of atoms attached to the main carbon chain or ring of an organic molecule.

Alkyl Group

A carbon branch attached to an organic chain, designated in IUPAC nomenclature with a '-yl' suffix.

Haloalkane

An alkane derivative in which one or more hydrogen atoms are substituted by halogen atoms (fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo).

Cis-Trans Isomers

Stereoisomers of alkenes formed because carbon-carbon double bonds are rigid and cannot rotate, placing attached groups in fixed geometric arrangements.

Cis Isomer

An alkene isomer in which identical or primary alkyl groups are located on the same side of the double bond.

Trans Isomer

An alkene isomer in which identical or primary alkyl groups are located on opposite sides of the double bond.

Pheromone

A chemical secreted by insects or animals to convey specific messages (such as danger warnings, trail marking, or mate attraction) to other members of the same species.

Bombykol

The sex pheromone secreted by the female silkworm moth, whose biological activity relies on having one cis double bond and one trans double bond.

Addition Reaction

A reaction characteristic of alkenes and alkynes in which atoms or groups add across double or triple bonds, converting double or triple bonds into single bonds.

Hydrogenation

An addition reaction where hydrogen atoms ($H_2$) add to the carbon atoms of a double or triple bond in the presence of a metal catalyst such as Pt, Ni, or Pd.

Hydration

An addition reaction in which an alkene reacts with water ($H\text{-OH}$) in the presence of a strong acid catalyst ($H^+$) to produce an alcohol.

Polymer

A large organic molecule synthesized from many small repeating molecular units called monomers.

Monomer

A small organic molecule, typically an alkene, that repeatedly bonds to other monomers during polymerization to build a polymer chain.

Polyethylene

A synthetic polymer generated by the addition polymerization of ethylene (ethene) monomers, commonly used in plastic bottles, bags, and film.