Organic Chemistry & Water Properties

What is a hydrogen bond?

A weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom, crucial for water's unique properties.

What are cohesion and adhesion in relation to water?

Cohesion is the attraction between water molecules, while adhesion is the attraction between water molecules and other substances, both important for processes like capillary action.

What is the significance of water's high specific heat?

It allows water to moderate temperature changes, making it essential for maintaining stable environments for life.

How does evaporative cooling work in water?

As water evaporates, it removes heat from the surface, helping to cool the environment.

What is water's density in different phases?

Water is less dense as a solid (ice) than as a liquid, which is why ice floats; this property is vital for aquatic life.

Why is water considered the 'universal solvent'?

It can dissolve more substances than any other liquid, facilitating chemical reactions and biological processes.

What determines the pH of a solution?

The concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in the solution; a higher concentration results in a lower pH (more acidic).

What is organic chemistry?

The branch of chemistry that studies the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of carbon-containing compounds.

Why is carbon essential for complex life forms?

Carbon's ability to form stable bonds with many elements, including itself, allows for the creation of diverse and complex molecules necessary for life.

What are the three types of chemical formulas used in organic chemistry?

Molecular formulas (show the number of each atom), structural formulas (show how atoms are connected), and space-filling models (illustrate the 3D arrangement of atoms).

How do carbon skeletons vary?

Carbon skeletons can differ in length, branching, and the presence of rings, affecting the properties and reactivity of the molecules.

What is an isomer?

An isomer is a compound with the same molecular formula as another compound but a different structure. Types include structural isomers, cis-trans (geometric) isomers, and optical (enantiomer) isomers.

Structural Isomer

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the covalent arrangements of their atoms.

geometric isomers (cis-trans)

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the spatial arrangements of their atoms.

optical isomers (enantiomers)

molecules that are mirror images of each other

7 Functional Groups

hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate, methyl