Organic Chemistry Basics

Study Notes

Functional Groups

A functional group is a specific group of atoms within a molecule that determines its chemical properties and reactivity
Common functional groups:
- Hydroxyl (-OH)
- Carboxyl (-COOH)
- Amino (-NH2)
- Aldehyde (-CHO)
- Ketone (-CO-)
- Ester (-COO-)
- Ether (-O-)
Functional groups can be classified as:
- Hydrophilic (water-loving) or hydrophobic (water-fearing)
- Acidic or basic
- Electron-withdrawing or electron-donating

Alkanes

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2
They are non-polar and non-reactive
Physical properties:
- Boiling points increase with increasing molecular weight
- Melting points increase with increasing molecular weight
- Density increases with increasing molecular weight
Chemical properties:
- Alkanes are resistant to oxidation and reduction
- They undergo combustion reactions with oxygen
- They can undergo substitution reactions with halogens

Alkenes

Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with one or more carbon-carbon double bonds
They are more reactive than alkanes due to the presence of the double bond
Physical properties:
- Boiling points are generally lower than those of alkanes
- Melting points are generally lower than those of alkanes
- Density is generally lower than that of alkanes
Chemical properties:
- Alkenes undergo addition reactions with electrophiles
- They can undergo polymerization reactions
- They can undergo oxidation reactions

Stereochemistry

Stereochemistry is the study of the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in molecules
Stereoisomers:
- Enantiomers: non-superimposable mirror images
- Diastereomers: non-superimposable non-mirror images
Chirality:
- A chiral molecule is one that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image
- Chiral molecules can rotate plane-polarized light
Stereocenters:
- A stereocenter is an atom that has a non-superimposable arrangement of atoms bonded to it
- Stereocenters can be asymmetric or symmetric

Synthetic Reactions

Synthetic reactions are reactions used to form new molecules
Types of synthetic reactions:
- Substitution reactions: replacement of a functional group with another
- Elimination reactions: removal of a functional group to form a new bond
- Addition reactions: formation of a new bond by adding a functional group
- Rearrangement reactions: reorganization of a molecule's structure
Synthetic reactions can be classified as:
- Electrophilic reactions: involve the attack of an electrophile (electron-deficient species)
- Nucleophilic reactions: involve the attack of a nucleophile (electron-rich species)

Nomenclature

Nomenclature is the system of naming organic compounds
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) rules:
- Identify the parent chain (longest continuous chain)
- Identify the functional groups and their locations
- Assign a prefix and suffix to the parent chain
- Use Greek letters to indicate the location of substituents
Common prefixes:
- Meth- (one carbon)
- Eth- (two carbons)
- Prop- (three carbons)
- But- (four carbons)
Common suffixes:
- -ane (alkane)
- -ene (alkene)
- -ol (alcohol)
- -al (aldehyde)
- -one (ketone)

Description

Test your knowledge of fundamental concepts in organic chemistry, including functional groups, hydrocarbons, stereochemistry, synthetic reactions, and nomenclature. Learn about the properties and characteristics of different types of molecules and reactions.