Organic chemistry

What is organic chemistry?

Organic chemistry is the study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-containing compounds.

What are hydrocarbons?

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds primarily made of hydrogen and carbon, and can be classified as aliphatic or aromatic.

Define aliphatic compounds.

Aliphatic compounds are organic molecules in which the carbon atoms are arranged in open chains (linear or branched) or cyclic structures.

What are functional groups?

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms in organic molecules that determine the chemical properties and reactions of those molecules.

Give an example of a functional group.

An example of a functional group is the hydroxyl group (-OH), which characterizes alcohols.

What is the significance of stereochemistry?

Stereochemistry is important because it studies the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules and its impact on their reactivity and properties.

Define isomers.

Isomers are compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structures or arrangements of atoms.

What are saturated hydrocarbons?

Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single bonds between carbon atoms and are saturated with hydrogen atoms.

Explain the difference between an alkane, alkene, and alkyne.

Alkanes have single bonds, alkenes have at least one double bond, and alkynes have at least one triple bond between carbon atoms.

What is a biomolecule?

Biomolecules are organic molecules that are essential for life, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

What are the three main classes of biomolecules?

The three main classes are carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

What is a polymer?

A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units called monomers.

Define carbohydrate.

Carbohydrates are organic molecules consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a 1:2:1 ratio.

What are monosaccharides?

Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules.

Give an example of a disaccharide.

An example of a disaccharide is sucrose, which is composed of glucose and fructose.

What are oligosaccharides?

Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates composed of 2 to 10 monosaccharide units.

Define polysaccharides.

Polysaccharides are large, complex carbohydrates made up of many monosaccharides linked together.

What are lipids?

Lipids are hydrophobic organic molecules that include fats, oils, and sterols.

What is the structure of a triglyceride?

A triglyceride consists of one glycerol molecule and three fatty acids.

Define saturated fats.

Saturated fats are triglycerides that have no double bonds between carbon atoms.

What are unsaturated fats?

Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds between carbon atoms.

What is the primary role of proteins?

Proteins serve as structural components, enzymes, and facilitate biochemical reactions.

Define amino acids.

Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins.

What is the significance of the peptide bond?

Peptide bonds link amino acids together to form proteins.

What are enzymes?

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in cells.

What is DNA?

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule that carries genetic information.

Define RNA.

RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a molecule that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis and gene expression.

What is the function of nucleotides?

Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids and play roles in metabolism.

What is a hydrocarbon chain?

A hydrocarbon chain is a chain of carbon atoms bonded together, with hydrogen atoms attached.

Define aromatic compounds.

Aromatic compounds are cyclic compounds that contain conjugated pi electron systems and are characterized by stability and aroma.

What is a functional group?

A functional group is a specific group of atoms that imparts characteristic chemical properties to a molecule.

What are aldehydes?

Aldehydes are organic compounds containing a carbonyl group (C=O) with at least one hydrogen atom attached.

What are ketones?

Ketones are organic compounds that contain a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two carbon atoms.

Define carboxylic acids.

Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of a carboxyl functional group (-COOH).

What is an ester?

An ester is a compound formed from the reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.

What are amines?

Amines are organic compounds that contain a nitrogen atom with a lone pair, bound to carbon atoms.

Define alkyl groups.

Alkyl groups are hydrocarbon chains derived from alkanes by removing one hydrogen atom.

What is an alkyl halide?

Alkyl halides are organic compounds in which an alkyl group is bonded to a halogen atom.

What is the significance of chirality in organic chemistry?

Chirality refers to the property of a molecule having non-superimposable mirror images, impacting biological activity.

What are substitution reactions?

Substitution reactions involve the replacement of an atom or group in a molecule with another atom or group.

What are addition reactions?

Addition reactions involve the addition of atoms or groups to a molecule, usually involving unsaturated compounds.

What is elimination reaction?

Elimination reactions involve the removal of atoms or groups from a molecule, leading to the formation of double or triple bonds.

What are redox reactions?

Redox reactions are chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons between molecules.