Organic Chemistry Introduction (CHE140)

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the history, structure, nomenclature, and functional groups of organic chemistry as presented in the CHE140 lecture.

Vitalism

An early scientific theory suggesting that organic compounds possess a 'vital spark' of life and could not be synthesized from inorganic materials.

Urea

An organic compound excreted by living beings that, when synthesized from inorganic lead and cyanate by a German chemist, helped disprove the theory of vitalism.

Hydrocarbons

Organic molecules consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms.

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds, also known as alkanes.

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons that contain one or more double or triple bonds, such as alkenes or aromatics.

Alkanes

Saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula $C_nH_{2n+2}$, such as methane, ethane, and propane.

Isomerism

The phenomenon where molecules share the same molecular formula but have different connections or spatial arrangements of atoms.

Dispersion Forces

Non-polar intermolecular forces that increase with molecular weight and surface area, affecting the boiling and melting points of hydrocarbons.

Alkenes

Unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond ($C=C$).

Cis Isomer

A double bond configuration where functional groups or methyl groups are located on the same side of the double bond.

Trans Isomer

A double bond configuration where functional groups or methyl groups are located on opposite (transverse) sides of the double bond.

Aromatic Compounds

Organic molecules characterized by alternating double and single bonds in a ring structure, such as those found in DNA bases.

Functional Groups

Specific groupings of atoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, or phosphorus, that determine the chemical properties and naming of organic molecules.

Alcohol

A functional group containing an $-OH$ (hydroxyl) group attached to a carbon atom.

Ether

A functional group where an oxygen atom is bonded between two carbon atoms ($R-O-R$).

Aldehyde

A functional group featuring a carbon double-bonded to an oxygen (carbonyl) with at least one hydrogen attached ($R-CHO$).

Ketone

A functional group featuring a carbonyl carbon bonded to two other carbon atoms ($R-CO-R$).

Carboxylic Acid

A functional group consisting of a carbonyl group bonded to a hydroxyl group ($-COOH$), which acts as a weak acid.

Ester

A functional group formed from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, often associated with pleasant aromas and flavors like raspberry or rum.

Amine

A nitrogen-containing functional group derived from ammonia ($NH_3$) that acts as a base.

Amide

A functional group where a carbonyl carbon is directly bonded to a nitrogen atom, forming the structural link in proteins.

Alkyl Halide

An organic compound where a carbon atom is bonded to a halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine.

Parent Chain

The longest continuous chain of carbon atoms identified in a molecule to determine its base name in IUPAC nomenclature.

Substituent

An atom or group of atoms (like a methyl or ethyl group) that replaces a hydrogen atom on the parent carbon chain.

Amino Acid

A biological molecule containing both an amine group and a carboxylic acid group, serving as the building blocks for proteins.

Zwitterion

A molecule that exists with both a positive and negative charge simultaneously, commonly observed in amino acids at neutral pH.

Atomic Force Microscopy

An advanced imaging technique developed in the early 2000s that allows scientists to physically visualize molecules and their bonds at the scale of angstroms.