Organic Chemistry: Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

This deck contains key vocabulary terms and definitions related to alkanes and cycloalkanes, as discussed in David Klein's Organic Chemistry.

Hydrocarbons

Compounds composed of hydrogen and carbon, can be saturated or unsaturated.

IUPAC Nomenclature

A systematic method for naming organic chemical compounds.

Parent Chain

The longest consecutive chain of carbon atoms in an alkane.

Substituents

Atoms or groups of atoms that replace hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon.

Alkyl Groups

Groups derived from alkanes by removing one hydrogen atom.

Cycloalkanes

Alkanes with carbon atoms arranged in a ring structure.

Constitutional Isomers

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different connectivity of atoms.

Torsional Angle

The angle between atoms on adjacent carbon atoms, important in conformational analysis.

Staggered Conformation

A conformation where atoms are positioned to minimize torsional strain, resulting in lower energy.

Eclipsed Conformation

A higher energy conformation caused by atoms directly overlapping, increasing torsional strain.

Steric Strain

A destabilization of a molecule due to the repulsion between atoms that are too close to each other.

1,3-Diaxial Interactions

Steric interactions that occur when substituents are both in axial positions on the chair conformation of cyclohexane.

Cis-trans isomerism

A type of stereoisomerism where substituents differ in their spatial orientation relative to a double bond or ring.

Decalin

A bicyclic compound consisting of two fused cyclohexane rings.

Angle Strain

Strain associated with bond angles that deviate from the ideal value.

Chair Conformation

The most stable conformation of cyclohexane, characterized by staggered bond arrangements.

Methylcyclohexane

A derivative of cyclohexane with one methyl group attached; exists in different chair conformations.

Bicyclic Compounds

Compounds containing two fused rings.

Heat of Combustion

The energy released when a compound is burned in the presence of oxygen.

Math Type

Software used for typesetting mathematical formulas.