Organic Chemistry

• What are the main elements found in organic compounds?

  Carbon and hydrogen, often with oxygen, nitrogen, and chlorine
• Why are there millions of different organic compounds?

  Because carbon atoms can form chains and rings
• What is a hydrocarbon?

  • A compound made up of hydrogen and carbon only
• What are the different ways to represent organic molecules?

  • Empirical formulae
  • Molecular formulae
  • General formulae
  • Structural formulae
  • Displayed formulae
• What is meant by the term 'homologous series'?

  A group of organic compounds with the same functional group and similar chemical properties
• What is a functional group in organic chemistry?

  A specific group of atoms that determines the chemical properties of a compound
• What is isomerism?

  The phenomenon where compounds have the same molecular formula but different structures
• How do you name organic compounds containing up to six carbon atoms?

  Using the rules of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature
• What is the significance of writing structural and displayed formulae?

  They help visualize the arrangement of atoms in a molecule
• What are the three main types of reactions in organic chemistry?

  Substitution, addition, and combustion
• What was the original belief about organic compounds?

  That they could only come from living things
• What are the structural forms that organic compounds can take?

  Chains, branched chains, or rings of carbon atoms
• Why might students find organic chemistry intimidating?

  Due to the new compounds with strange names and unfamiliar ways of drawing them
• What is the structural formula for butane?

  1. C-C-C-H
• What is the molecular formula for but-1-ene?

  CH₃CH₂CH=CH₂
• What is the structural formula for ethanol?

  CH₃C(OH)H₂
• What is the structural formula for ethanoic acid?

  CH₃C(=O)OH
• What is the structural formula for 2-methylbutane?


  CH₃CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃
• What are the key learning objectives in organic chemistry?

  • Understand hydrocarbons
  • Represent organic molecules
  • Know homologous series and functional groups
  • Name compounds using IUPAC rules
  • Write structural and displayed formulae
  • Classify organic reactions