Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Flashcards covering key concepts in organic chemistry, including definitions and explanations of fundamental terms.

Organic Chemistry

The study of carbon compounds excluding oxides, metal carbides, and carbonates.

Catenation

The ability of carbon atoms to form chains or rings through strong covalent bonds.

Tetravalency

The capability of carbon to form four separate covalent bonds.

Acyclic Compounds

Organic compounds that do not contain rings, including alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.

Cyclic Compounds

Organic compounds that contain rings, which can be homocyclic, aromatic, or heterocyclic.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that determines the chemical properties of that molecule.

Homologous Series

A series of compounds that share a common functional group and have a similar general formula.

Isomerism

The phenomenon where compounds have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements.

Alkanes

Saturated hydrocarbons characterized by single covalent bonds between carbon atoms.

Hybridisation

The process of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals, used in bond formation.

Sigma Bond (σ bond)

A type of bond formed by the head-on overlap of orbitals, characterized by a symmetrical electron density.

Pi Bond (π bond)

A type of bond formed by the sideways overlap of p orbitals, with electron density above and below the bond axis.

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons which contain only single bonds and are fully saturated with hydrogen atoms.

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons that contain double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.

Branched Chain Alkane

An alkane that has one or more branches in its carbon chain, opposed to a straight-chain.