Introduction to Organic Chemistry

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to organic chemistry, focusing on hydrocarbons, functional groups, and their properties.

Organic Compounds

Compounds made primarily from carbon and hydrogen, may also contain oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or halogens.

Inorganic Compounds

Compounds made from metals or a combination of metals and nonmetals, held together by ionic bonds.

Hydrocarbons

Organic compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon.

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds.

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons that contain one or more double or triple bonds.

Alkanes

A type of hydrocarbon that contains only single bonds between carbon atoms.

IUPAC Naming

A systematic method for naming organic chemical compounds.

Methane

The simplest alkane, with the formula CH₄.

Ethane

An alkane with two carbon atoms, with the formula C₂H₆.

Propane

An alkane with three carbon atoms, with the formula C₃H₈.

Butane

An alkane with four carbon atoms, with the formula C₄H₁₀.

Condensed Structural Formula

A representation of a molecular structure that shows each carbon atom and its attached hydrogen atoms.

Expanded Structural Formula

A representation that shows all bonds between atoms in a molecule.

Line Angle Formula

A simplified structural formula that represents carbon-carbon bonds as lines.

Cyclic Alkanes

Alkanes that form ring structures and use the prefix 'cyclo' in their names.

Structural Isomers

Compounds with the same chemical formula but different arrangements of atoms.

Substituents

Atoms or groups attached to the main carbon chain in organic compounds.

Primary Alcohol

An alcohol where the carbon connected to the hydroxyl (-OH) group is bonded to one other carbon.

Secondary Alcohol

An alcohol where the carbon attached to the hydroxyl (-OH) group is joined to two other carbons.

Tertiary Alcohol

An alcohol where the carbon connected to the hydroxyl (-OH) group is bonded to three other carbons.

Aldehydes

Organic compounds containing a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to at least one hydrogen atom.

Ketones

Organic compounds containing a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to two carbon atoms.

Carboxylic Acids

Organic compounds that contain a carbonyl group (C=O) and a hydroxyl group (-OH) on the same carbon.

Esters

Organic compounds formed when carboxylic acids react with alcohols.

Amides

Organic compounds that contain a carbonyl group adjacent to a nitrogen atom.

Aromatic Compounds

Compounds characterized by a stable ring structure with alternating double bonds.

Alkenes

Hybrid organic compounds that contain carbon-carbon double bonds.

Alkynes

Hybrid organic compounds that contain carbon-carbon triple bonds.

Phenols

Organic compounds that contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group bonded to a carbon atom of an aromatic ring.

Amine

Compounds derived from ammonia by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms with alkyl or aryl groups.

Solubility of Alcohols

Alcohols can form hydrogen bonds with water, making small alcoholic compounds soluble.