chemistry study guide

Unit B: Chemistry Study Guide

1. Organic Chemistry

Functional Groups to Know:

Naming Organic Compounds:

• Find the longest carbon chain.

• Number to give functional group the lowest number.

• Name substituents and functional groups.

• Use prefixes: di-, tri- if multiple halogens or groups.

Ester Formation (Esterification):

• Acid + Alcohol → Ester + Water

• Catalyst: H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid)

Example: Ethanoic acid + butan-1-ol → butyl ethanoate + H₂O

2. Acids and Bases

Properties:

Definitions:

• Arrhenius Acid: Produces H⁺ in solution

• Arrhenius Base: Produces OH⁻ in solution

• Brønsted-Lowry Acid: Proton (H⁺) donor

• Brønsted-Lowry Base: Proton (H⁺) acceptor

3. pH and Strength of Acids/Bases

pH Scale:

• Scale: 0–14

• <7 = Acidic, 7 = Neutral, >7 = Basic

Strong vs Weak:

• Strong acids/bases: Fully dissociate in water

• Weak acids/bases: Partially dissociate

Calculating pH:

• pH = -log[H⁺]

• Concentration affects pH

• Strength affects degree of dissociation, not just pH

4. Acid Deposition & the Environment

Combustion Reactions:

• Fuel (hydrocarbon) + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O

• Incomplete combustion → CO or C (soot)

Oxides:

• SO₂, NO₂ released → Combine with H₂O → acids

  • SO₂ + H₂O → H₂SO₃ (sulfurous acid)

  • SO₃ + H₂O → H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid)

  • NO₂ + H₂O → HNO₂ and HNO₃

Impacts of Acid Rain:

• Jet Stream: Spreads acid rain

• Limestone Buffer: Neutralizes acid

• Metal Leaching: Acids dissolve toxic metals into water

• Plant nutrients: Washed away or uptake blocked

5. Reducing Environmental Impact

Solutions:

• Scrubbers: Remove SO₂ from exhaust gases

• Catalytic Converters: Reduce NOx emissions

• Photochemical Smog: Controlled via alternative transportation & reducing emissions

6. Practice Concepts

Esterification Reactions to Know:

1. ethanoic acid + butan-1-ol → butyl ethanoate + H₂O

2. pentan-1-ol + propanoic acid → pentyl propanoate + H₂O

Functional Group ID in Structures:

• Look for:

  • –OH = alcohol

  • –COOH = carboxylic acid

  • –Cl, –Br, –F = halogenated hydrocarbon

  • Benzene ring = aromatic compound