OCR (A) Chemistry A-Level - Module 6: Organic Chemistry & Analysis

A comprehensive set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in OCR (A) Chemistry A-Level, Module 6 on Organic Chemistry and Analysis.

Acyl Chloride

A molecule containing the functional group -COCl.

Aromatic Compound

A compound containing at least one benzene ring.

Delocalised Model of Benzene

A model where the p-orbitals of the 6 carbon atoms overlap to form a delocalised π system.

Electron Density

A representation of the probability of finding an electron at a specific point around an atom/molecule.

Electron Donating Groups

Groups that donate electrons into the aromatic ring during electrophilic substitution.

Electron Withdrawing Groups

Groups that pull electron density away from the delocalised π system of benzene.

Electrophilic Substitution

A reaction where an electrophile reacts with another compound to replace an atom/group of atoms.

Haloalkane

An organic compound containing a halogen atom (F, Cl, Br, I) bound to an alkyl chain.

Halogen Carrier

A Lewis acid that can bind to a halogen molecule, facilitating electrophilic actions.

Kekulé’s Structure of Benzene

A model of benzene with alternating C=C and C-C bonds.

Phenol

A weak acid with an aromatic ring and an attached -OH group.

2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine

A compound that forms an orange precipitate in the presence of aldehydes and ketones.

Aldehyde

A compound containing the -CHO functional group at the end of an alkyl chain.

Carbonyl

The C=O group found in aldehydes and ketones.

Nucleophile

An electron pair donor.

Nucleophilic Addition

A reaction where an electrophilic π bond reacts with a nucleophile, forming new σ bonds.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons or increase in oxidation number.

Tollens’ Reagent

Ammoniacal silver nitrate, which forms a silver mirror with aldehydes.

Bronsted-Lowry Acid

A proton donor.

Bronsted-Lowry Base

A proton acceptor.

Carboxylic Acid

An organic compound containing the -COOH functional group.

Ester

A compound containing the R-COO-R’ functional group.

Esterification

The process of making esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols.

Hydrolysis

A reaction in which water is used to break down a compound.

Water Soluble

A compound that can dissolve in water.

Aliphatic Amine

An amine containing straight or branched alkyl chains.

Amines

Compounds containing the NR3 functional group.

Aromatic Amine

An amine containing a benzene ring attached to the nitrogen atom.

α-Amino Acid

A compound with the formula RCH(NH2)COOH.

Amine Group

The -NH2 group present in organic compounds.

Carboxylic Acid Group

The -COOH group in organic compounds.

Chiral Centre

A carbon atom bonded to four different groups.

Optical Isomerism

A type of stereoisomerism where compounds are non-superimposable mirror images.

Primary Amide

An organic compound containing the functional group RNH2.

Secondary Amide

An organic compound containing the functional group R2NH.

Stereoisomers

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

Addition Polymerisation

Formation of a long chain molecule from many monomers with the polymer as the only product.

Amide Hydrolysis

The hydrolysis of amides under acidic or alkaline conditions.

Condensation Polymerisation

Formation of long-chain molecules with the release of small molecules like water.

Monomer

A small molecule used to form polymers.

Polymer

A large molecule made from many small units bonded together.

Polymerisation

The process of making a polymer from its monomers.

Repeat Unit

A structure in a polymer that repeats throughout the molecule.

Acylation

A reaction to form substituted aromatic compounds using acyl chlorides.

Acid Hydrolysis

Breaking down a compound with acidic water.

Alkylation

A reaction to form substituted aromatic compounds using haloalkanes.

Friedel-Crafts Reactions

Reactions for attaching substituents to aromatic rings.

Nitrile

An organic compound containing a -C≡N group.

Nucleophilic Substitution

A reaction where an electron pair donor replaces an atom/group.

Reduction

Gain of electrons or decrease in oxidation number.

Distillation

A technique to separate components by heating and cooling their vapours.

Filtration Under Reduced Pressure

A technique used to separate and dry organic solids.

Functional Group

A group of atoms that determines the reactions of a compound.

Melting Point Apparatus

Equipment used to determine the melting point of a sample.

Recrystallisation

A method to purify organic solids.

Reflux

Continual boiling and condensing of a reaction mixture.

Synthetic Route

A series of steps followed to make a specific compound.

Chromatography

A technique for separating and identifying components in a mixture.

Gas Chromatography

Chromatography where a gas is passed through a column to separate components.

Mobile Phase

The moving substance in chromatography for separation.

Phenol

An aromatic compound with an attached -OH group.

Primary Alcohol

An organic compound with the formula RCH2OH.

Qualitative Analysis

Techniques used to identify the presence of elements or functional groups.

Retention Time

The time taken for a sample to travel to the detector in GC.

Rf Value

In TLC, the distance moved by a substance divided by the distance moved by the solvent.

Secondary Alcohol

An organic compound with the formula R2CHOH.

Stationary Phase

The substance through which the mobile phase moves in chromatography.

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

A type of chromatography using a solid-coated plate.

Carbon-13 NMR Spectroscopy

NMR that analyses 13C nuclei to determine different environments.

Chemical Shift

The shift of a carbon or proton environment relative to a standard.

Coupling

Interaction between adjacent non-equivalent protons in NMR.

D2O Exchange

A technique to identify O-H and N-H protons in NMR spectroscopy.

Deuterated Solvent

A solvent with hydrogen atoms replaced by deuterium.

Doublet

A signal on 1H NMR comprised of 2 peaks.

Elemental Analysis

Analysis of a sample to determine the proportion of its elements.

Environment

The atoms/groups surrounding a proton or carbon in NMR.

Equivalent Protons

Protons that share the same environment.

IR Spectroscopy

Technique that identifies bonds and functional groups by absorption of infrared radiation.

Mass Spectroscopy

A technique identifying compounds by measuring their mass-to-charge ratio.

n+1 Rule

Determines the number of peaks based on adjacent non-equivalent protons.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

A technique using electromagnetic radiation absorption to analyze compound structures.

Proton NMR Spectroscopy

NMR that analyses 1H nuclei to determine proton environments.

Quartet

A signal on 1H NMR made up of 4 peaks, indicating 3 adjacent protons.

Spin-Spin Splitting

Interaction causing a signal on the 1H NMR spectrum to split into multiplets.

Tetramethylsilane (TMS)

Standard for measuring chemical shifts in NMR spectroscopy.

Triplet

A signal on 1H NMR made up of 3 peaks, indicating 2 adjacent protons.