Organic Chemistry Flashcards

Flashcards for Hydrocarbons, Alcohols, Phenols, Aldehydes & Ketones, and Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

Hydrocarbons

Organic compounds made of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Acyclic Hydrocarbons

Open-chain hydrocarbons (also known as aliphatic hydrocarbons).

Cyclic Hydrocarbons

Closed-chain hydrocarbons.

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons containing only single bonds (e.g., alkanes, cycloalkanes).

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons containing double or triple bonds (e.g., alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkenes, cycloalkynes).

Alkanes

Saturated acyclic hydrocarbons.

Alkenes

Unsaturated acyclic hydrocarbons containing at least one double bond.

Alkynes

Unsaturated acyclic hydrocarbons containing at least one triple bond.

Alicyclic Hydrocarbons

Cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons (saturated or unsaturated).

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Cyclic hydrocarbons with alternating single and double bonds (e.g., benzene).

Complete Combustion of Hydrocarbons

Reaction of a hydrocarbon with excess oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.

Baeyer Test

Test for multiple bonds using potassium permanganate (KMnO4), where the purple solution turns into a brown solid (MnO2) in the presence of alkenes or alkynes.

Substitution Reactions

Reactions that saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes and cycloalkanes) typically undergo under rigorous conditions.

Addition Reactions

Reactions that unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkenes and alkynes) undergo.

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution

Reactions that aromatic compounds like benzene undergo.

Alcohols

Organic compounds containing one or more hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups attached to a hydrocarbon skeleton. R-OH

Monohydric Alcohol

An alcohol with one hydroxyl (-OH) group (e.g., methanol).

Diol

An alcohol with two hydroxyl (-OH) groups (e.g., ethylene glycol).

Triol

An alcohol with three hydroxyl (-OH) groups (e.g., glycerol).

Primary Alcohol (1°)

An alcohol where the carbon atom bonded to the -OH group is attached to one other carbon atom.

Secondary Alcohol (2°)

An alcohol where the carbon atom bonded to the -OH group is attached to two other carbon atoms.

Tertiary Alcohol (3°)

An alcohol where the carbon atom bonded to the -OH group is attached to three other carbon atoms.

Chromic Acid Test

A test to distinguish primary and secondary alcohols from tertiary alcohols. Positive result: orange to green color change.

Lucas Test

A test to distinguish tertiary and secondary alcohols from primary alcohols using Lucas reagent (HCl and ZnCl2). Positive result: formation of insoluble layer or cloudiness.

Esterification

Reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid to form an ester and water.

Methyl Salicylate

An ester with a wintergreen odor, formed from salicylic acid and methanol.

Iodoform Test

A test for compounds containing the acetyl group (CH3CO-) or secondary alcohols that can be oxidized to form the acetyl group. Positive result: yellow precipitate of CHI3 (iodoform).

Acrolein Test

Test for glycerol. Positive result: Pungent odor.

Fermentation

The conversion of glucose to ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide by yeast.

Phenol

Aromatic organic compound with a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to a benzene ring (Ar-OH).

Liquid Phenol

Phenol containing over 50% phenol.

Solubility in Alkali (Phenols)

Phenols react with NaOH to form a colorless solution containing sodium phenoxide.

Reaction with FeCl3 (Phenols)

Phenols give a violet color when treated with dilute FeCl3.

Bromine Water Test (Phenols)

Phenols react with bromine water to form a white precipitate of 2,4,6-tribromophenol.

Phenolphthalein Formation

Formation of phenolphthalein from phenol, which is pink with NaOH and clear with HCl.

Millon's Test

A test for the presence of a phenolic group in tyrosine and proteins containing tyrosine. Positive result: flesh to red precipitate with Millon’s reagent (HgNO3 in HNO3).

Aldehyde

Organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) with at least one hydrogen atom attached to the carbonyl carbon (RCOH).

Ketone

Organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) with two carbon groups attached to the carbonyl carbon (RCOR).

2,4-DNPH (Brady's) Test

Test for carbonyl group (C=O). Positive result: yellow to red precipitate.

Sodium Bisulfite Test

Test for carbonyl group. Positive result: white precipitate.

Schiff's Test

Test for aldehydes. Positive result: violet-colored complex.

Tollen's Test

Test for aldehydes using ammoniacal AgNO3. Positive result: silvery or mirror-like appearance.

Fehling's Test

Test for aldehydes using copper(II) sulfate. Positive result: yellow to brick-red precipitate.

Sodium Nitroprusside Test

Test for methyl ketones. Positive result: bright red to wine red color.

Molisch Test

General test for carbohydrates. Positive result: violet layer or ring.

Bial's Orcinol Test

Test to differentiate hexoses from pentoses using orcinol, HCl, and ferric chloride. Hexoses give brown, pentoses give blue to green.

Carboxylic Acids

Organic compounds containing a carboxy group (-COOH).

Ester

A carboxylic acid derivative with the structure R-C(=O)-OR'.

Amide

A carboxylic acid derivative with the structure R-C(=O)-NR'R''.

Acyl Chloride

A carboxylic acid derivative with the structure R-C(=O)-Cl.

Acid Anhydride

A carboxylic acid derivative with the structure (R-C(=O))-O-(C(=O)-R).

Reaction with Water and Indicators (Carboxylic Acids)

Carboxylic acids react with water to form carboxylate and hydronium ions, changing litmus paper to red.

Reaction with NaOH (Carboxylic Acids)

Carboxylic acids react with sodium hydroxide to form a salt and water.

Reaction with Na2CO3 (Carboxylic Acids)

Carboxylic acids react with sodium carbonate to release CO2 gas, differentiating them from weaker acids like alcohols and phenols.

Reaction with Neutral FeCl3 (Carboxylic Acids)

Acetic acid forms a red-orange solution with reddish-brown precipitate; tartaric acid forms a soluble yellow solution.

Hydroxamic Test

Test for esters. Positive result: magenta or burgundy color after adding ferric chloride.

Saponification

alkaline hydrolysis of fats and oils (triglycerides) which produces a salt of fatty acids called soap and glycerol.