Organic Chemistry — Functional Groups

Alkane

A saturated hydrocarbon with single bonds between carbon atoms.

What is the general formula for alkanes?

$C_n{H}_{2n+2}$

Alkene

An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

What is the general formula for alkenes?

$C_n{H}_{2n}$

Alkyne

An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

What is the general formula for alkynes?

$C_n{H}_{2n-2}$

Aromatic

A hydrocarbon with conjugated pi electron systems, like benzene.

Alcohol

An organic compound with a hydroxyl ($-OH$) functional group attached to a saturated carbon atom.

What is the general structure of an alcohol?

$R-OH$

Ether

An organic compound with an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups.

Aldehyde

An organic compound containing a formyl group ($-CHO$) where the carbon is bonded to a hydrogen atom.

Ketone

An organic compound with a carbonyl group ($C=O$) bonded to two carbon atoms.

What is the functional group of carboxylic acids?

Carboxyl group ($-COOH$)

Ester

An organic compound derived from the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, containing a $-COO-$ group.

Amine

An organic compound derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms with alkyl or aryl groups.

Amide

An organic compound containing a carbonyl group ($C=O$) bonded to a nitrogen atom.

Nitrile

An organic compound containing a cyano group ($-C\equiv N$).

What is a functional group?

A specific group of atoms within a molecule responsible for the characteristic reactions of that molecule.

Phenol

An aromatic compound with a hydroxyl group directly attached to a benzene ring.

What reaction can convert an alcohol to an alkene?

Dehydration reaction

Thiol

An organic compound containing a sulfhydryl group ($-SH$).

Halide

An organic compound containing a halogen atom (F, Cl, Br, or I) bonded to carbon.

What is the mechanism of nucleophilic substitution reactions in halides?

Involves the replacement of a leaving group by a nucleophile.

Acetal

A compound formed from an aldehyde or ketone with two alcohol molecules, featuring two $-O-R$ groups.

Hemiacetal

A compound formed from an aldehyde or ketone with one alcohol molecule, featuring one $-OH$ and one $-O-R$ group.

What type of isomerism occurs due to restricted rotation around double bonds?

Cis-trans (geometric) isomerism

Epoxide

A three-membered cyclic ether with an oxygen atom and two carbon atoms.

What is the reaction type that converts alkenes to epoxides?

Epoxidation

What does the term 'electrophile' refer to?

A species that accepts an electron pair, typically involved in chemical reactions with nucleophiles.

Grignard reagent

An organomagnesium compound used in the formation of carbon-carbon bonds.