Alkenes, Alkynes, and Alcohols

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, and their properties, reactions, and structures.

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Organic molecules containing at least one double or triple bond between carbon atoms; includes alkenes and alkynes.

Alkenes

Unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

Alkynes

Unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

Cis Isomers

Isomers where substituents are on the same side of a double bond.

Trans Isomers

Isomers where substituents are on opposite sides of a double bond.

Markovnikov’s Rule

Predicts which product will be formed when an unsymmetrical reagent adds to an alkene.

Aromatic Compounds

Molecules that contain at least one benzene ring.

Benzene Ring

A six-carbon ring structure with alternating double and single bonds.

Alcohol

An organic molecule containing a hydroxyl (–OH) group.

Ether

An organic molecule containing an oxygen atom bonded between two carbon atoms.

Chirality

A property of a molecule having non-superimposable mirror images.

Enantiomers

Pairs of chiral molecules that are mirror images of each other.

Fischer Projection

A two-dimensional representation of a molecule used to depict stereoisomers.

Stereoisomers

Molecules that have the same connectivity of atoms but differ in spatial arrangement.

Constitutional Isomers

Isomers that have the same molecular formula but different connectivity of their atoms.

Zaitsev’s Rule

States that in an elimination reaction, the most substituted alkene will be the major product.

Hydroxyl Group

The –OH functional group found in alcohols.

Dehydration Reaction

A reaction where water is removed from a molecule, often forming double bonds.

Oxidation Reaction

A chemical process that involves the addition of oxygen or the removal of hydrogen.

Primary Alcohol

An alcohol where the –OH group is attached to a terminal carbon.

Secondary Alcohol

An alcohol where the –OH group is attached to a carbon bonded to two other carbons.

Tertiary Alcohol

An alcohol where the –OH group is attached to a carbon bonded to three other carbons.

Alcohol Metabolism

The process by which alcohols are broken down in the body; involves conversion to acetaldehyde.

Denatured Alcohol

Ethanol mixed with methanol or other additives to make it unfit for human consumption.

Achiral (aa-KYE-rull)

An object or molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image, indicating it does not have chiral centers.

Chiral (KYE-rull; rhymes with viral)

A molecule that can be superimposed on its mirror image, indicating it has one or more chiral centers.

Constitutional Isomers

Molecules with the same molecular formula but different connectivity of atoms (different bond arrangements).

Stereoisomers

Molecules with the same molecular formula and connectivity but different spatial arrangements. Includes enantiomers, diastereomers, and cis-trans isomers.

Chiral Carbon (Chirality Center)

A carbon atom bonded to four different atoms or groups, creating a point of asymmetry and allowing for stereoisomerism.

Wedge-and-Dash Notation

Notation where solid wedge bonds (\blacktriangle) come out of the page, dashed wedge bonds (\frown) go into the page, and plain lines are in the plane.

Drawing Enantiomers

Draw the non-superimposable mirror image of a chiral molecule by reversing the spatial arrangement (e.g., wedge to dash) at each chiral center.

Wedge/Dash to Fischer Projection

Convert wedge/dash to Fischer: horizontal lines come out (wedges), vertical lines go in (dashes). Main carbon chain typically vertical with most oxidized carbon at top.

Meso Compound

An achiral compound containing chiral centers that is superimposable on its mirror image due to internal symmetry.

R/S Configuration

A system (Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules) for assigning absolute configuration to chiral centers, denoting 'R' (rectus, right) or 'S' (sinister, left).

Dextrorotatory (d or +)

A compound that rotates plane-polarized light in a clockwise direction.

Levorotatory (l or -)

A compound that rotates plane-polarized light in a counter-clockwise direction.

Specific Rotation ([\alpha]_D)

A standardized measure of a chiral compound's ability to rotate plane-polarized light, calculated from observed rotation, concentration, and path length.