Organic Chemistry: Key Concepts, Nomenclature, and Isomerism

What is organic chemistry?

Study of carbon and its compounds.

How many covalent bonds can carbon form?

4

Why can carbon form so many different compounds?

It can bond with itself to form chains and rings.

What is a hydrocarbon?

A compound containing only carbon and hydrogen.

What is a straight-chain hydrocarbon?

A hydrocarbon with one continuous carbon chain.

What is a branched-chain hydrocarbon?

A hydrocarbon with one or more side chains attached to the parent chain.

What is an aromatic compound?

A compound containing a benzene ring.

What is an alkane?

A hydrocarbon containing only single bonds.

What is the general formula for an alkane?

CnH2n+2

What suffix is used for alkanes?

-ane

What is an alkene?

A hydrocarbon containing at least one double bond.

What is the general formula for an alkene?

CnH2n

What suffix is used for alkenes?

-ene

What is an alkyne?

A hydrocarbon containing at least one triple bond.

What is the general formula for an alkyne?

CnH2n-2

What suffix is used for alkynes?

-yne

What prefix is used for one carbon atom?

Meth-

What prefix is used for two carbon atoms?

Eth-

What prefix is used for three carbon atoms?

Prop-

What prefix is used for four carbon atoms?

But-

What prefix is used for five carbon atoms?

Pent-

What prefix is used for six carbon atoms?

Hex-

What prefix is used for seven carbon atoms?

Hept-

What prefix is used for eight carbon atoms?

Oct-

What prefix is used for nine carbon atoms?

Non-

What prefix is used for ten carbon atoms?

Dec-

How do you determine the parent chain?

Choose the longest continuous carbon chain.

How do you number the parent chain?

Start from the end closest to the first double bond, triple bond, or substituent.

What is an alkyl group?

A side chain attached to the parent chain.

What is a one-carbon alkyl group called?

Methyl

What is a two-carbon alkyl group called?

Ethyl

How are multiple identical substituents indicated?

By using prefixes such as di-, tri-, and tetra-.

What should be identified first when naming an organic compound?

The longest parent chain.

Why is numbering important in IUPAC naming?

It identifies the location of bonds and substituents.

What are isomers?

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures.

What are the two major classes of isomers?

Constitutional isomers and stereoisomers.

What are constitutional isomers?

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

What are stereoisomers?

Compounds with the same connectivity but different spatial arrangements.

What are enantiomers?

Non-superimposable mirror images.

What are diastereomers?

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images.

What is a chiral center?

A carbon atom bonded to four different groups.

What is another name for a chiral center?

Stereocenter.

What does a wedge bond represent?

A bond coming out of the page.

What does a dash bond represent?

A bond going into the page.

What does a straight line bond represent?

A bond lying in the plane of the page.

What do R and S describe?

The absolute configuration of a chiral center.

What does R indicate?

Clockwise priority order.

What does S indicate?

Counterclockwise priority order.

Where should the lowest priority group point when assigning R or S?

Away from the viewer.

What do E and Z describe?

The arrangement of groups around a double bond.

What does E mean?

The higher priority groups are on opposite sides.

What does Z mean?

The higher priority groups are on the same side.

Which configuration is similar to trans?

E

Which configuration is similar to cis?

Z

What is a functional group?

A specific arrangement of atoms that gives an organic compound its characteristic properties.

What does R represent in organic chemistry?

A bonded atom or group of atoms.

What does R' represent?

A different bonded atom or group of atoms.

What does R'' represent?

Another different bonded atom or group of atoms.

What does X represent in RX?

Any halogen (F, Cl, Br, or I).

What are the four common halogens?

Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

What is the general formula for a halide (halocarbon)?

RX

What prefixes are used for halides?

Fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, and iodo-.

What is CH3CHClCH3 called?

2-chloropropane

What is the functional group for an alcohol?

-OH

What is the general formula for an alcohol?

ROH

What suffix is used for alcohols?

-ol

What is CH3CH2CH2OH called?

1-propanol

What is the functional group for an ether?

-O-

What is the general formula for an ether?

ROR'

What is CH3OCH2CH3 called?

Methyl ethyl ether

What is the functional group for an aldehyde?

-CHO

What is the general formula for an aldehyde?

RCHO

What suffix is used for aldehydes?

-al

What is CH3CH2CHO called?

Propanal

What is the functional group for a ketone?

>C=O

What is the general formula for a ketone?

RCOR'

What suffix is used for ketones?

-one

What is CH3COCH2CH2CH3 called?

2-pentanone

What is the functional group for an organic acid (carboxylic acid)?

-COOH

What is the general formula for an organic acid?

RCOOH

What suffix is used for organic acids?

-oic acid

What is CH3CH2COOH called?

Propanoic acid

What is the functional group for an ester?

-COO-

What is the general formula for an ester?

RCOOR'

What suffix is used for esters?

-oate

What is CH3CH2COOCH3 called?

Methyl propanoate

What is the functional group for an amine?

-NH2, -NHR, or -NR2

What are the general formulas for amines?

RNH2, R2NH, and R3N

What suffix is used for amines?

-amine

What is CH3CH2CH2NH2 called?

1-propanamine

What is the functional group for an amide?

-CONH2, -CONHR, or -CONR2

What are the general formulas for amides?

RCONH2, RCONHR', and RCONR'R''

What suffix is used for amides?

-amide

What is CH3CH2CONH2 called?

Propanamide

Which functional group contains a hydroxyl (-OH) group?

Alcohol

Which functional group contains a carbonyl group at the end of a carbon chain?

Aldehyde

Which functional group contains a carbonyl group between two carbon groups?

Ketone

Which functional group contains both a carbonyl group and a hydroxyl group?

Organic acid (carboxylic acid)

Which functional group contains a carbonyl group attached to an oxygen atom?

Ester

Which functional group contains nitrogen but no carbonyl group?

Amine