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Functional group
An atom or group of atoms within a molecule responsible for the characteristic reactions of a particular compound
Nucleophile
A substance that donates a pair of electrons in a reaction
Electrophile
A substance that accepts a pair of electrons in a reaction
Sigma bond
A type of covalent bond formed by head-on overlap of atomic orbitals in which the majority of the electron density is in the same plane as the nuclei, the strongest type of covalent bond
Pi bond
A type of covalent bond formed by the side-by-side overlap of orbitals with the electron density concentrated above and below the plane of the nuclei
Alkyl group
A functional group of an organic molecule that only contains C and H atoms
Chiral
Describes molecules that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image
Free radical
Molecules or ions with unpaired electrons
Isomer
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different chemical structure
Substitution reaction
A reaction in which one atom or group of atoms is replaced by another atom or group of atoms
Addition reaction
A reaction in which an atom or group of atoms is added to a molecule across a double bond
Elimination reaction
A reaction in which atoms are removed from a molecule
Oxidation
A reaction in which the oxidation number is increased or the proportion of electronegative substituents in a compound is increased
Reduction
A reaction in which the oxidation number is decreased or the proportion of electronegative substituents in a compound is decreased
Hydrolysis
The addition of water to a substance to break it down
Lone pair
A pair of electrons in a molecule not shared between two atoms
Steric hindrance
The physical blockage of a particular site within a molecule by the presence of local atoms or groups of atoms
Transition state
A short-lived configuration of atoms formed during a chemical reaction that is the least stable and associated with the highest energy level on a reaction path
Intermediate
A chemical substance produced during the conversion of reactant to product
Electronegativity
The tendency for atoms in a molecule to attract a bonding pair of electrons
