Organic Chemistry Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards focusing on organic chemistry nomenclature, carbon classification, and functional groups based on lecture notes.

Homologous series

A family of organic compounds with the same functional group, general formula, and similar chemical properties, where each successive member differs by $(CH_2)$ or $14$ units of molar mass.

Primary carbon atom

A carbon atom that is attached to $1$ carbon atom.

Secondary carbon atom

A carbon atom that is attached to $2$ carbon atoms.

Tertiary carbon atom

A carbon atom that is attached to $3$ carbon atoms.

Quartenary carbon atom

A carbon atom that is attached to $4$ carbon atoms.

Saturated

A hydrocarbon containing only single bonds.

Unsaturated

A hydrocarbon containing more than one bond.

Acyclic

Open chain hydrocarbons, which can be straight or branched chains.

Alicyclic

Cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Stable but highly unsaturated cyclic compounds containing $1$ or more benzene rings, such as benzene ($C_6H_6$).

Alkanes

Hydrocarbons with the general formula $C_nH_{2n+2}$. Examples include Methane ($CH_4$), Undecane ($C_{11}H_{24}$), and Eicosane ($C_{20}H_{42}$).

Alkenes

Hydrocarbons containing double bonds with the general formula $C_nH_{2n}$, such as ethene ($C_2H_4$).

Alkynes

Hydrocarbons containing triple bonds with the general formula $C_nH_{2n-2}$, such as ethyne ($C_2H_2$).

Methoxy

A substituent group represented as $-OCH_3$.

Ethoxy

A substituent group represented as $-OC_2H_5$.

Nitro

A substituent group represented as $-NO_2$.

Acyl-halides

Organic compounds with the general structure $R-C(=O)X$, such as methanoyl chloride.

Acid Anhydride

Compounds formed from the combination of carboxylic acids; designated as symmetrical if both R groups are identical or unsymmetrical if they differ.

Nitriles

Compounds with the general formula $R-C \times N$. The suffix "nitrile" is added to the alkane name or "carbonitrile" for cyclic versions.

Cyano

The name used for the nitrile group ($-CN$) when a higher priority group is present in the molecule.

Phenol

A compound formed by the loss of one hydrogen atom from benzene and the addition of an "OH" group ($C_6H_5OH$).

Thiols

Organic compounds with the general formula $R-SH$. They are named by adding the suffix "-thiol" to the longest chain containing the group.

Mercapto

The name used for the $-SH$ group when it is not the main functional group in the molecule.