Organic Chemistry Basics

Organic Chemistry

Definition: Study of carbon-containing compounds and their properties, reactions, and synthesis.
Key Elements:
- Carbon (C): Central element, forms four covalent bonds.
- Hydrogen (H): Commonly bonded to carbon.
- Other Elements: Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S), Phosphorus (P), Halogens (F, Cl, Br, I).
Functional Groups: Specific groups of atoms that determine the characteristics and reactions of organic molecules.
- Hydroxyl (-OH): Alcohols
- Carbonyl (C=O): Aldehydes and ketones
- Carboxyl (-COOH): Carboxylic acids
- Amino (-NH2): Amines
- Ester (-COO-): Esters
Types of Organic Compounds:
- Alkanes: Saturated hydrocarbons (single bonds), general formula CnH2n+2.
- Alkenes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons (double bonds), general formula CnH2n.
- Alkynes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons (triple bonds), general formula CnH2n-2.
- Aromatic Compounds: Contain benzene rings, exhibit resonance.
Isomerism:
- Structural Isomers: Different connectivity of atoms.
- Geometric Isomers: Different spatial arrangement (cis/trans).
- Stereoisomers: Same connectivity but different orientations in space.
Reactions:
- Substitution Reactions: Atom or group replaced by another (e.g., halogenation).
- Addition Reactions: Atoms added to double/triple bonds (e.g., hydrogenation).
- Elimination Reactions: Removal of atoms to form double bonds (e.g., dehydration).
- Rearrangement Reactions: Molecular structure reorganized.
Polymerization: Process of linking monomers to form polymers (e.g., plastics).
Nomenclature:
- IUPAC Rules: Systematic naming based on longest carbon chain, functional groups, and substituents.
- Common Names: Often used for well-known compounds (e.g., ethanol for ethyl alcohol).
Spectroscopy Techniques:
- Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Identifies functional groups based on molecular vibrations.
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR): Analyzes molecular structure via magnetic properties of nuclei.
- Mass Spectrometry (MS): Determines molecular weight and structure through ionization and fragmentation.
Applications:
- Pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, plastics, dyes, fuels, and biochemistry.

Organic Chemistry Overview

Organic chemistry focuses on carbon-containing compounds, exploring their properties, reactions, and synthesis methods.

Key Elements

Carbon (C) is the backbone of organic compounds, capable of forming four covalent bonds.
Hydrogen (H) frequently bonds with carbon, influencing molecular structure.
Other significant elements include:
- Nitrogen (N)
- Oxygen (O)
- Sulfur (S)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Halogens (F, Cl, Br, I)

Functional Groups

Functional groups dictate the reactivity and characteristics of organic molecules:
- Hydroxyl (-OH): Characteristic of alcohols.
- Carbonyl (C=O): Found in aldehydes and ketones.
- Carboxyl (-COOH): Identifying feature of carboxylic acids.
- Amino (-NH2): Present in amines.
- Ester (-COO-): Present in esters.

Types of Organic Compounds

Alkanes: Saturated hydrocarbons with single bonds; formula is CnH2n+2.
Alkenes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons featuring double bonds; formula is CnH2n.
Alkynes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons with triple bonds; formula is CnH2n-2.
Aromatic Compounds: Characterized by benzene rings and resonance stabilization.

Isomerism

Structural Isomers: Differ in the connectivity of atoms.
Geometric Isomers: Have different spatial configurations (cis/trans).
Stereoisomers: Share connectivity but differ in spatial orientation.

Organic Reactions

Substitution Reactions: Include the replacement of an atom or group (e.g., halogenation).
Addition Reactions: Involve the addition of atoms to double or triple bonds (e.g., hydrogenation).
Elimination Reactions: Result in the formation of double bonds by removing atoms (e.g., dehydration).
Rearrangement Reactions: Change the molecular structure without adding or removing atoms.
Polymerization: Links monomers together to form polymers, commonly seen in plastics.

Nomenclature

IUPAC Rules provide a systematic approach for naming organic compounds based on carbon chain length, functional groups, and substituents.
Common names are often used for widely recognized compounds, e.g., ethanol for ethyl alcohol.

Spectroscopy Techniques

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Identifies functional groups through molecular vibrations.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR): Examines molecular structure based on the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei.
Mass Spectrometry (MS): Analyzes molecular weight and structure through ionization and fragmentation processes.