Chem Functional Groups

What is the general formula and naming suffix for Alkanes?

Formula: CₙH₂ₙ₊₂ | Suffix: -ane

What is the general formula and naming suffix for Alkyl groups?

Formula: CₙH₂ₙ₊₁ | Suffix: -yl

What are the general formulae and naming rules for Cycloalkanes and Cycloalkenes?

Cycloalkanes: CₙH₂ₙ (cyclo- -ane) | Cycloalkenes: CₙH₂ₙ₋₂ (cyclo- -ene)

What is the general formula and prefix for Halogenoalkanes (alkyl halides)?

Formula: R-X (X = halogen) | Prefix: halo-

What is the general formula and naming suffix for Alkenes?

Formula: CₙH₂ₙ | Suffix: -ene

What is the general formula, suffix, and prefix for Alcohols?

Formula: R-OH | Suffix: -ol | Prefix: hydroxy-

What is the general formula, suffix, prefix, and an example of Aldehydes?

Formula: R-CHO | Suffix: -al | Prefix: formyl- | Example: propanal (CH₃CH₂CHO)

What is the general formula, suffix, prefix, and an example of Ketones?

Formula: R-COR' | Suffix: -one | Prefix: oxo- | Example: propanone (CH₃COCH₃)

What is the general formula, suffix, and an example of Carboxylic acids?

Formula: R-COOH | Suffix: -oic acid | Example: propanoic acid (CH₃CH₂COOH)

What is the general formula, suffix, and an example of Esters?

Formula: R-COOR' | Suffix: -yl -oate | Example: methyl propanoate (CH₃CH₂COOCH₃)

What is the general formula, suffix, prefix, and an example of Amines?

Formula: R-NH₂ | Suffix: -amine | Prefix: amino- | Example: 1-propanamine (CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₂)

What is the general formula, naming, and an example of α-amino acids?

Formula: R(NH₂)COOH | Naming: amino- -oic acid | Example: 2-aminopropanoic acid (CH₃CH(NH₂)COOH)

What is the general formula, suffix, prefix, and an example of Amides?

Formula: R-CONH₂ | Suffix: -amide | Prefix: amido- | Example: propanamide (CH₃CH₂CONH₂)

What is the general formula, prefix, and an example of Nitro compounds?

Formula: R-NO₂ | Prefix: nitro- | Example: nitrobenzene (C₆H₅NO₂)

What is a saturated alcohol?

An alcohol containing only single C–C bonds. It has the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms.

What is an unsaturated alcohol?

An alcohol containing at least one C=C or C≡C bond in its carbon chain.

What is produced during the complete combustion of an organic compound?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O).

What are the reactants in complete combustion of a hydrocarbon?

The hydrocarbon + oxygen (O₂).

What is produced during incomplete combustion?

Carbon monoxide (CO) and/or carbon (C), plus water (H₂O).

What is a primary (1°) alcohol?

An alcohol where the carbon bonded to the –OH group is attached to one other carbon.

What is a secondary (2°) alcohol?

An alcohol where the carbon bonded to the –OH group is attached to two other carbons.

What is a tertiary (3°) alcohol?

An alcohol where the carbon bonded to the –OH group is attached to three other carbons.

How do you determine whether an alcohol is primary, secondary or tertiary?

Find the carbon attached to –OH, then count how many other carbon atoms are directly attached to it.

What does a primary alcohol oxidise to?

An aldehyde, which can be further oxidised to a carboxylic acid.

What does a secondary alcohol oxidise to?

A ketone.

What happens when a tertiary alcohol is oxidised?

It does not readily oxidise under normal conditions.

What reactants produce an alkane?

Alkene + H₂

What reactants produce an alkene?

Alcohol → alkene + H₂O (This is a dehydration reaction).

What reactants produce an alcohol?

Alkene + H₂O

What reactants produce a haloalkane?

Alkene + HX (e.g. HCl).

What reactants produce an aldehyde?

Primary alcohol + oxidising agent.

What reactants produce a ketone?

Secondary alcohol + oxidising agent.

What reactants produce a carboxylic acid?

Primary alcohol + oxidising agent with further oxidation.

What reactants produce an ester?

Carboxylic acid + alcohol.

What reactants produce an amine?

Haloalkane + NH₃.

If I am given an organic product and asked for the reactants, what should I do?

1. Identify the functional group → 2. Find it in the reaction map → 3. Work backwards to the required reactants.

What makes an amino acid acidic?

Its R group contains an additional carboxyl (–COOH) group, allowing it to donate H⁺.

What makes an amino acid basic?

Its R group contains a basic nitrogen-containing group, which can accept H⁺.

What makes an amino acid neutral?

Its R group is neither acidic nor basic and does not normally gain or lose H⁺.

What is the difference between acidic, neutral and basic amino acids?

It depends on the chemical properties of their R group: Acidic (can donate H⁺), Basic (can accept H⁺), Neutral (neither significantly donates nor accepts H⁺).

What is a zwitterion?

A molecule that contains both a positive and negative charge, but has an overall neutral charge.