Chemistry: Organic Reactions

Combustion

• Organic compound is burned in the presence of oxygen to form CO2 and H2O

• O2 is always a REACTANT

Subsitution

• Two atoms switch

• First compound is saturated (single bonds)

• One H is switched with one halogen

• End up with 2 products

Addition

• Double or triple bond is broken and 2 or more atoms are added

  • Original molecule must me unsaturated

• End up with only one product

Esterification

• Forms esters (responsible for smells)

• Identify ester as a product

Fermentation

• Enzymatic breakdown of sugar into alcohol

• Identify alcohol and CO2 as a product

Saponification

• Hydrolysis of fats using a base

• Produces soap and glycerol (alcohol)

• Identify soap as a product and a base as a reactant

Polymerization

• Formation of long-chain molecules (polymers) from small repeating subunits (monomers)

• Can be natural (proteins) or artificial (plastics)

  • Starch- long chains of sugars

  • Proteins- long chains of amino acids

  • Cellulose- long chains of sugars

Addition Polymerization

• Adding small alkenes together by breaking down the double bond, to create a long chain

• Identify by “n” which represents a large number

Condensation Polymerization

• Joining 2 molecules by removing water