Chemistry - Organic Compounds

what is a hydrocarbon

a compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon atoms

name 4 of the 6 ways organic compounds can be represented

1. empirical formula

2. molecular formula

3. general formula

4. structural formula

5. skeletal formula

6. displayed formula

what does the empirical formula show

the simplest ratio of atoms in a molecule

what does the molecular formula show

the actual number of atoms in a molecule

what does the general formula show

ratio of atoms in a family of compounds in terms of ‘n’

what does the displayed formula show

the spatial arrangement of all the atoms and bonds in a molecule

what is an isomer

a compound that has the same molecular formula but different display formula

what is the difference between substitution and addition

1. substitution is when one functional group is replaced with another

2. addition is when two or more molecules combine to form a larger molecule