Organic Chemistry Overview

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to organic chemistry, including definitions for various types of compounds and functional groups.

Alkane

A saturated hydrocarbon consisting only of single carbon-carbon bonds (C-C) and carbon-hydrogen bonds (C-H). They follow the general formula CnH{2n+2} and are typically unreactive.

Alkene

An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C). They follow the general formula CnH{2n} for non-cyclic alkenes and are more reactive than alkanes due to the presence of the pi bond.

Alkyne

An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (C\equiv C). They follow the general formula CnH{2n-2} for non-cyclic alkynes and are highly reactive due to the multiple pi bonds.

Aromatic Compound

A cyclic organic compound, typically containing a benzene ring (a six-carbon ring with delocalized pi electrons), that exhibits enhanced stability due to its delocalized electron system.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule, determining its chemical properties.

Hydroxyl Group

The functional group consisting of an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom (-OH). It is characteristic of alcohols and phenols.

Carbonyl Group

A functional group composed of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O). It is a key feature of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, and amides.

Carboxyl Group

A functional group consisting of a carbonyl group (C=O) with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the same carbon atom (-COOH). It is characteristic of carboxylic acids and imparts acidic properties.

Ester

An organic compound derived from a carboxylic acid (R-COOH) and an alcohol (R'-OH), typically through an esterification reaction. It contains the functional group R-COO-R'.

Amine

An organic compound derived from ammonia (NH_3) where one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups. Amines contain a nitrogen atom bonded to organic substituents and are generally basic.

Amide

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to a nitrogen atom. It is formed by replacing the hydroxyl group (-OH) of a carboxylic acid with an amino group (-NR_2).

Ether

An organic compound characterized by an oxygen atom (-O-) bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups (R-O-R'). Ethers are generally quite stable and relatively unreactive.

Aldehyde

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom and one alkyl or aryl group. The carbonyl carbon is always at the end of a carbon chain.

Ketone

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups. The carbonyl carbon is located within a carbon chain, not at the end.

Haloalkane (Alkyl Halide)

An organic compound in which one or more hydrogen atoms of an alkane have been replaced by one or more halogen atoms (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine).

Thiol

An organic compound containing a sulfhydryl functional group (-SH), which consists of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. Thiols are sulfur analogs of alcohols.

Alkane

A saturated hydrocarbon consisting only of single carbon-carbon bonds (C-C) and carbon-hydrogen bonds (C-H). They follow the general formula CnH{2n+2} and are typically unreactive.

Alkene

An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C). They follow the general formula CnH{2n} for non-cyclic alkenes and are more reactive than alkanes due to the presence of the pi bond.

Alkyne

An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (C\equiv C). They follow the general formula CnH{2n-2} for non-cyclic alkynes and are highly reactive due to the multiple pi bonds.

Aromatic Compound

A cyclic organic compound, typically containing a benzene ring (a six-carbon ring with delocalized pi electrons), that exhibits enhanced stability due to its delocalized electron system.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule, determining its chemical properties.

Hydroxyl Group

The functional group consisting of an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom (-OH). It is characteristic of alcohols and phenols.

Carbonyl Group

A functional group composed of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O). It is a key feature of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, and amides.

Carboxyl Group

A functional group consisting of a carbonyl group (C=O) with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the same carbon atom (-COOH). It is characteristic of carboxylic acids and imparts acidic properties.

Ester

An organic compound derived from a carboxylic acid (R-COOH) and an alcohol (R'-OH), typically through an esterification reaction. It contains the functional group R-COO-R'.

Amine

An organic compound derived from ammonia (NH_3) where one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups. Amines contain a nitrogen atom bonded to organic substituents and are generally basic.

Amide

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to a nitrogen atom. It is formed by replacing the hydroxyl group (-OH) of a carboxylic acid with an amino group (-NR_2).

Ether

An organic compound characterized by an oxygen atom (-O-) bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups (R-O-R'). Ethers are generally quite stable and relatively unreactive.

Aldehyde

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to at least one hydrogen atom and one alkyl or aryl group. The carbonyl carbon is always at the end of a carbon chain.

Ketone

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups. The carbonyl carbon is located within a carbon chain, not at the end.

Haloalkane (Alkyl Halide)

An organic compound in which one or more hydrogen atoms of an alkane have been replaced by one or more halogen atoms (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine).

Thiol

An organic compound containing a sulfhydryl functional group (-SH), which consists of a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. Thiols are sulfur analogs of alcohols.

Alcohol

An organic compound containing a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) bonded to a saturated carbon atom.

Phenol

An organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is directly attached to an aromatic ring.

Carboxylic Acid

An organic compound characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group (-COOH), which gives it acidic properties.

Nitrile

An organic compound containing a cyano functional group (-C\equiv N), where a carbon atom is triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.