Organic Chemistry Basics

Organic Chemistry

• Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds.
• Petroleum jelly is a mixture of higher carbon number hydrocarbons.
• Alcohols are characterized by a hydroxyl functional group.
• Carbon's unique property is its ability to bond to other carbon atoms.
• Urea was the first organic compound synthesized in a lab.
• Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single bonds.
• Methane is the simplest alkane.
• Ethane has the formula CH₃CH₃.
• Butane has the formula CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃.
• Alkanes are also called saturated hydrocarbons.

Additional Organic Chemistry Concepts

• Perfluorocarbons are hydrocarbons where hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine.
• The formula for pentane is C₅H₁₂.
• The formula for butene is C₄H₈.
• A hydrocarbon contains only carbon and hydrogen.
• Ethane is a saturated compound.
• Hexene is an alkene.
• Heptyne is an alkyne.
• Heptane is an alkane.
• Benzene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon, but it does not react the same as other unsaturated hydrocarbons.
• CFCs are gases or liquids with low boiling points.
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons are used as insecticides.
• The symbol R in organic formulas represents an alkyl group.
• Organic compounds are classified by their functional groups.
• Aldehydes and ketones share a carbonyl functional group.
• Esters are often used as fragrances.
• Monomers are the small building blocks of polymers.

Polymers

• The word polymer means many parts.
• PTFE is another name for Teflon.
• Teflon is used in nonstick cookware.
• Plexiglass is a polymethyl methacrylate polymer used as a glass substitute; it has a high Tg.
• Recycling is the most desirable way to manage plastic waste.
• Polyethylene is the simplest synthetic polymer.
• Starch is a naturally occurring polymer.
• Wool and silk are protein polymers.
• The first practical application of celluloid was billiard balls.
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) has linear, unbranched chains in a close packing arrangement.

Additional Polymer Concepts

• Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has highly branched, non-linear chains in a diffuse packing arrangement.
• LDPE is often used in plastic bags.
• Thermoplastic polymers can be heated and reformed.
• The monomer used to make Teflon is F₂CCF₂.
• Vulcanization makes rubber hard.
• Isoprene is the monomer used to make natural rubber.
• Plastics make up 12% of solid waste by mass.
• Some plastics release poisonous gases when burned.
• Silicones are not used in garbage bags.

Additional Chemistry

• Polyacetylene is a polymer that conducts electricity.
• Animal starch is called glycogen.
• Nitrogen is NOT found in carbohydrates.
• Fructose is a monosaccharide.
• Starch is a polysaccharide found in potatoes and cereal grains.
• Glucose is the monomer unit in amylopectin.
• Sucrose is a disaccharide.
• Glycogen is a polymer NOT made by plants.
• Unsaturated fats are often liquids called oils.
• Fats are differentiated from oils by their melting points.
• Triglycerides are another name for fats.
• Animal fats are solid and contain a smaller proportion of unsaturated fats.
• Amino acids contain both -NH₂ and -COOH functional groups.
• A zwitterion is a compound with a positive and negative charge.
• Protein is a polymer of amino acids.
• Proteins are also polyamides.
• Polypeptides are small molecules with more than 10 amino acids.
• The primary structure of a protein is determined by the order of amino acids.
• The secondary structure of a protein is determined by hydrogen bonding, creating shapes like alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets.
• Quaternary structure is determined by interactions between different protein chains.
• Enzymes are catalysts.
• The active site in an enzyme is where the substrate attaches.