Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering introductory topics on alkanes, cycloalkanes, IUPAC nomenclature, physical properties, lipids, synthesis, radical reactions, and intermolecular forces.

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons derived from fats and oils containing mostly carbon-carbon single bonds.

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons derived from essential oils containing alternating single and double carbon-carbon bonds.

Alkanes

Hydrocarbons containing only $C-C$ single bonds and $C-H$ bonds, having the general formula $C_n H_{2n+2}$.

Alkenes

Hydrocarbons containing at least one $C=C$ double bond.

Alkynes

Hydrocarbons containing at least one $C\equiv C$ triple bond.

Arenes

Hydrocarbons containing a ring of alternating $C-C$ single and $C=C$ double bonds.

Methane

The simplest hydrocarbon, represented by the chemical formula $CH_4$.

IUPAC Name Components

The systematic nomenclature structure composed of a Prefix (substituent location), a Parent (carbon chain length), and a Suffix (functional group family).

First Point of Difference Rule

An IUPAC rule stating that when numbering carbon chains from both ends produces different position numbers, the correct path gives the lower number to the substituent at the first point of difference.

Alkyl Group

A substituent group derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom, named with the suffix -yl.

Primary Carbon

A carbon atom directly bonded to only one other carbon atom.

Secondary Carbon

A carbon atom directly bonded to two other carbon atoms.

Tertiary Carbon

A carbon atom directly bonded to three other carbon atoms.

Cycloalkanes

Saturated cyclic hydrocarbons having the general formula $C_n H_{2n}$ (where $n > 2$) and named using the prefix cyclo-.

Cis-Trans Stereoisomers

Isomers with identical atom connectivity but different spatial arrangements; cis isomers have substituents on the same side of a ring, while trans isomers have them on opposite sides.

Refining

The process of distilling crude petroleum into usable hydrocarbon fractions separated by boiling point ranges.

Lipids

Biomolecules composed predominantly of nonpolar $C-H$ and $C-C$ bonds with few polar groups, making them soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in water.

Cholesterol

A lipid in the steroid family containing four fused carbon rings and a single polar hydroxyl group, rendering it insoluble in blood.

Hydrophobic

Describing nonpolar molecules or structural regions that are not attracted to water ($H_2 O$).

Hydrophilic

Describing polar molecules or functional groups that can form hydrogen bonds with water ($H_2 O$).

Catalytic Hydrogenation

A reaction converting alkenes to alkanes by adding hydrogen ($H_2$) across double bonds in the presence of a catalyst such as platinum ($Pt$).

Grignard Reaction

A synthesis method forming alkanes by reacting an alkyl halide with magnesium ($Mg$) in dry ether, followed by reaction with water ($H_2 O$).

Wurtz Reaction

A coupling reaction producing symmetrical alkanes using sodium ($Na$) or unsymmetrical alkanes using lithium dialkyl copper ($R_2 CuLi$).

Combustion

An oxidation reaction where alkanes combine with oxygen ($O_2$) to produce carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), water ($H_2 O$), and heat.

Halogenation

A radical substitution reaction where an alkane C–H bond is converted to a C–X bond using a halogen ($X_2$) under heat or UV light.

Initiation

The first phase of a radical mechanism where heat or light splits a neutral halogen molecule into two radical species.

Propagation

The self-sustaining phase of a radical mechanism where a radical reacts with a non-radical molecule to generate products and a new radical.

Termination

The final phase of a radical mechanism where two free radicals combine to form a non-radical molecule, ending the reaction chain.

Van der Waals Interactions

Weak, temporary dipole-induced dipole forces that occur between nonpolar molecules due to instantaneous fluctuations in electron density.

Dipole-Dipole Interactions

Moderate electrostatic attractive forces occurring between the permanent dipoles of adjacent polar molecules.

Hydrogen Bonding

A strong non-covalent attractive force between a hydrogen atom bonded to oxygen ($O$), nitrogen ($N$), or fluorine ($F$) and a lone pair on another $O$, $N$, or $F$ atom.

Intermolecular Forces Hierarchy

The classification of non-covalent forces ordered by increasing relative strength: van der Waals (weak), dipole-dipole (moderate), hydrogen bonding (strong), and ion-ion (very strong).