Organic Chemistry Terms

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Functional Group

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Specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules.

The same functional group will undergo the same or similar chemical reaction(s) regardless of the size of the molecule it is a part of.

However, its relative reactivity can be modified by nearby functional groups.

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Alkane

Cycloalkane

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Saturated hydrocarbons

C˅nH˅2n+2


Saturated hydrocarbons where the carbon atoms form a loop

C˅nH˅2n

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Alkene

Cycloalkene

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Unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one double bond between carbon atoms.

C˅nH˅2n


Unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one double bond and where the carbon atoms form a loop.

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Alkyne

Cycloalkyne

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Unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one triple bond between carbon atoms.

C˅nH˅2n-2

Unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one triple bond and where the carbon atoms form a loop.

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Hydrocarbon

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An organic molecule that consists solely of hydrogen and carbon

They are divided into aliphatic and aromatic compounds

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Saturated Compound

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One that contains only single bonds

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Unsaturated Compound

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One that contains at least one multiple bond

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Aliphatic Compound

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A sub-class of hydrocarbon that contains all alkanes and alkenes and alkynes including their cycloanalogues

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Aromatic Compound

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A sub-class of hydrocarbon that consists of conjugated rings of unsaturated bonds. i.e. they have alternating single and multiple bonds

These compounds are extremely stable due in part to their conjugated bonds, as well as a manifestation of delocalised electron resonance

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Alkadiene

Alkatriene

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Alkene that contains 2 double bonds

Alkene that contains 3 double bonds

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Alkadiyne

Alkatryine

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contains 2 triple bonds

contains 3 triple bonds

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Alkyl

2 examples

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refers to any functional group or substituent derived from an alkyne. Usually it refers to the removal of a hydrogen from an alkene

Methyl and Ethyl

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Alkenyl

2 examples

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refers to any functional group or substituent derived from an alkyne. Usually it refers to the removal of a hydrogen from an alkene

Ethenyl (Vinyl) and (Allyl)

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Alkynyl

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refers to any functional group or substituent derived from an alkyne. Usually it refers to the removal of a hydrogen from an alkyne

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Halogenation

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a chemical reaction that incorporates a halogen atom into a molecule

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Alkyl Halide

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also known as halogenoalkanes, are a group of chemical compounds, derived from alkanes containing one or more halogens

The halides are F, Cl, Br and I

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Markovkinov's Rule

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states that with the addition of a protic acid HX to an alkene, the acid hydrogen (H) becomes attached to the carbon with fewer alkyl substituents, and the halide (X) group becomes attached to the carbon with more alkyl substituents

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Electrophile

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is a reagent attracted to electrons that participates in a chemical reaction by accepting an electron pair in order to bond to a nucleophile

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Nucleophile

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is a reagent that forms a chemical bond to its reaction partner (the electrophile) by donating both bonding electrons

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Alcohol

2 examples

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a compound in which a hydroxyl group is bonded to a carbon atom in a hydrocarbon chain.

methanol and ethanol

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Diol

Triol

Glycol

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Compound containing 2 hydroxyl groups

Compound containing 3 hydroxyl groups

Compound containing 2 hysdroxyl groups bonded to adjacent carbons

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Ether

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Compound containing the alkoxyl group bonded to a carbon atom in a hydrocarbon chain

They are polar molecules and the oxydgen atom is nucleophilic

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Hydroxyl

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a functional group containing an oxygen and a hydrogen atom

-OH

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Alkoxyl

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a functional group consisting of a hydrocarbon bonded to an oxygen atom

-OR

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Thiol

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Compound containing a sulfydryl group bonded a carbon atom in a hydrocarbon chain

Thiols are sulfur analogues of alcohols

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Sulfide

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is th sulfur analogue of an ether

R-S-R

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Sulfhydryl

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a funtional group containg a sulfur and a hydrogen atom

-SH

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Amine

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is a derivative of ammonia NH₃where one or more hydrogens is replaced by alkyl or aromatic groups

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Aliphatic Amines

Aromatic Amines

Heterocyclic Amines

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all carbons directly attached to the nitrogen of the amine are members of alkyl groups

the aromatic ring is attached directly to the nitrogen

the nitrogen is part of a ring

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Primary Alcohol

Secondary Alcohol

Tertiary Alcohol

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-OH is attached to a primary carbon

-OH is attached to a secondary carbon

-OH is attached to a tertiary carbon

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Primary Amine

Secondary Amine

Tertiary Amine

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N is attached to one primary hydrogen (CH₃)

N is attached to two primary hydrogens (2 x CH₃)

N is attached to three primary hydrogens (3 x CH₃)

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Benzene

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is the base name for the class of aromatic rings.

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Phenyl

Benzyl

Phenol

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a single benzene ring as a substituent

phenyl with an extra carbon attached

an aromatic ring with a hydroxyl substituent

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Acyl

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is also known as alkanoyl, a functional group derived by the removal of one or more hydroxyl groups from an oxoacid. In organic chemistry, the acyl group is usually derived from a carboxylic acid.

It therefore has the formula RCO, where R represents an alkyl, aryl, alkenyl or alkynyl group that is attached to the CO group with a single bond

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Carbonyl

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is a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom

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Aldehyde

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A compound containing a carbonyl group bonded to a hydrogen atom

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Ketone

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A compound containing a carbonyl group bonded to 2 carbon atoms

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Acetal

Hemiacetal

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a molecule with two single bonded oxygens attached to the same carbon atom.

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Ketal

Hemiketal

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a subclass of acetals.

It is a molecule with two -OR groups attached to the same carbon, where O is oxygen and R represents any alkyl group