Organic Chemistry Basics

Study Notes

Alkanes: Saturated hydrocarbons with only single bonds (e.g., methane, ethane)
Alkenes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons with one or more double bonds (e.g., ethene, propene)
Alkynes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons with one or more triple bonds (e.g., ethyne, propyne)
Arenes: Aromatic hydrocarbons with planar, ring-shaped structures (e.g., benzene)
Alcohols: Compounds with a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group (e.g., methanol, ethanol)
Ethers: Compounds with an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl groups (e.g., diethyl ether)
Carboxylic Acids: Compounds with a carboxyl (-COOH) functional group (e.g., acetic acid, citric acid)
Amines: Compounds with an amino (-NH2) functional group (e.g., ammonia, methylamine)

Structural Isomerism: Different arrangements of atoms in a molecule with the same molecular formula
Stereoisomerism: Different arrangements of atoms in space with the same molecular formula

Substitution Reactions: Replacement of a functional group with another functional group
Elimination Reactions: Removal of a functional group to form a new bond
Addition Reactions: Addition of a functional group to a molecule
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions: Gain or loss of electrons resulting in a change in oxidation state

Organic chemistry studies carbon-containing compounds and their properties, excluding carbonates, cyanides, and oxides

Typically composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms, with possible presence of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus
Low melting and boiling points are common characteristics
Often exhibit distinct odors and colors

Specific groups of atoms that determine a molecule's chemical properties
Examples:
- Hydroxyl (-OH) functional group
- Carboxyl (-COOH) functional group
- Amino (-NH2) functional group
- Methyl (-CH3) functional group

Alkanes: Saturated hydrocarbons with single bonds, e.g., methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6)
Alkenes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons with one or more double bonds, e.g., ethene (C2H4) and propene (C3H6)
Alkynes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons with one or more triple bonds, e.g., ethyne (C2H2) and propyne (C3H4)
Arenes: Aromatic hydrocarbons with planar, ring-shaped structures, e.g., benzene (C6H6)
Alcohols: Compounds with a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group, e.g., methanol (CH3OH) and ethanol (C2H5OH)
Ethers: Compounds with an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl groups, e.g., diethyl ether (C4H10O)
Carboxylic Acids: Compounds with a carboxyl (-COOH) functional group, e.g., acetic acid (CH3COOH) and citric acid (C6H8O7)
Amines: Compounds with an amino (-NH2) functional group, e.g., ammonia (NH3) and methylamine (CH3NH2)

Structural Isomerism: Same molecular formula, different arrangements of atoms, e.g., butane (C4H10) and isobutane (C4H10)
Stereoisomerism: Same molecular formula, different arrangements of atoms in space, e.g., enantiomers and diastereomers

Substitution Reactions: Replacement of a functional group with another functional group, e.g., chlorination of methane
Elimination Reactions: Removal of a functional group to form a new bond, e.g., dehydration of ethanol
Addition Reactions: Addition of a functional group to a molecule, e.g., hydrogenation of ethene
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions: Gain or loss of electrons resulting in a change in oxidation state, e.g., combustion of methane