10.1 - Organic Chem Basics

10.1

A homologous series is a series of compounds of the same family, with the same general formula, which differ from each other by a common structural unit.

While learning organic chem, you’ll have come across many homologous series. In all the homologous series you’ve come across, the repeating units are CH2 groups.

Examples of homologous series:
  • Alkanes and Alkenes
  • Carboxylic acids
  • Ketones
  • Aldehydes
  • Alcohols
  • Nitriles

Explanation of the trends in boiling points of members of a homologous series.

As the chain length increases in a homologous series, the boiling point increases. This is because as the chain length increases, so do the London Dispersion forces.

STRUCTURAL FORMULAS AND STRUCTURAL ISOMERISM

Structural formulas can be represented in full and condensed format.

Full Structural Formula

Full formula (Organic chem)

Shown:

  • Hydrogens
  • Carbons
  • All other atoms
  • ​All bonds

Condensed Structural Formula

Condensed formula (organic chem)

Shown:

  • Hydrogens
  • Carbons
  • All other atoms

Not shown

  • Bonds

Skeletal Formula

Skeletal formula (organic chem)

Shown:

  • Carbons (as corners’)
  • All other atoms
  • Show all bonds

Not shown:

  • Hydrogens

Structural isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different arrangements of atoms.

There are quite a few different arrangements for different numbers of atoms, there is no one set way for them to bond. This leads to structural isomers like below. 

NOTE: Not all isomer below are isomers of pentene but all are isomers of C5H10

C5H10 isomers
Distinction between empirical, molecular and structural formulas.

Molecular

The total number of each atom present in the molecule.

Empirical

The smallest ratio of the numbers of atoms present in the molecule.

FUNCTIONAL GROUPS AND BASIC ORGANIC CHEM

Functional groups are the reactive parts of molecules.

The functional group of the molecule is the part of the molecule that reacts with other organic molecules as you’ll see in topic 10.2 and 20 when you study reaction mechanisms.

Functional groups (organic chem)

You need to memorise and be able to identify these organic functional groups. I’ve created a couple of quizlet sets for this (more later in the post).

Saturated compounds contain single bonds only and unsaturated compounds contain double or triple bonds

Hopefully you’ve learnt this before and this is just a recap. A fully saturated molecule contains ONLY single bonds. If it contains any double or triple bonds, it’s unsaturated.

Benzene is an aromatic, unsaturated hydrocarbon Discussion of the structure of benzene using physical and chemical evidence.

Aromatic compounds are cyclic compounds that have resonance (topic 4+14). Benzene is unsaturated because of it’s 3 resonant double bonds.

How we know benzene is resonant:

  • Enthalpy of combustion is not consistent with 3 double bonds
  • Enthalpy of hydration is also not consistent with 3 double bonds
  • Bond lengths of all 6 bonds in the ring are equal, the bonds are therefore all equal strength
  • Benzene does not undergo addition reactions (e.g with Br) like other alkenes

NAMING ORGANIC MOLECULES

Construction of 3-D models (real or virtual) of organic molecules.

Application of IUPAC rules in the nomenclature of straight-chain and branched-chain isomers.

Organic molecule naming quizlet:

PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY

Identification of primary, secondary and tertiary carbon atoms in halogenoalkanes and alcohols and primary, secondary and tertiary nitrogen atoms in amines.

Whether an alcohol, amide or halogenoalkane is primary secondary or tertiary depends on the number of carbon atoms are bonded to the carbon atom that’s bonded to the functional group. It might take you a while to get your head around this but there’s a quiz down below that should be able to help.

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