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An Introduction To Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry is the study of organic compounds which contain carbon. Organic compounds can be categorized into homologous series with similar general formulas and properties. Within each series, compounds are represented by a functional group which gives them characteristic chemical behaviors. Naming organic compounds involves specifying the parent chain length and functional group as a prefix and suffix, along with any side groups as substituents. There are different types of formulas that can be used to represent organic molecules, including empirical, molecular, structural, and full structural formulas.

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597 views6 pages

An Introduction To Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry is the study of organic compounds which contain carbon. Organic compounds can be categorized into homologous series with similar general formulas and properties. Within each series, compounds are represented by a functional group which gives them characteristic chemical behaviors. Naming organic compounds involves specifying the parent chain length and functional group as a prefix and suffix, along with any side groups as substituents. There are different types of formulas that can be used to represent organic molecules, including empirical, molecular, structural, and full structural formulas.

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An Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry is the study of organic


compounds.

Organic compounds are compounds which contain


the element carbon. Most organic compounds also
contain hydrogen. Organic compounds which
contain carbon and hydrogen only are known
as hydrocarbons.

Homologous Series

A homologous series refers to a family of organic


compounds with the same general formula and
similar chemical properties.

Organic compounds in the same homologous series


have the following characteristics:

● Represented by a General Formula


● Regularly increasing relative molecular
masses from one member to the next member
● Can be prepared by similar methods
● Gradual change in physical properties from one
member to the next member
● Similar chemical properties
● Same functional group (except alkanes homologous
series)
Functional Group

A functional group is defined as an atom or a group


of atoms that gives a molecule its characteristic
properties.

All molecules containing the same functional


group will behave similarly towards the same
chemical reagents, i.e. they have the same chemical
properties.

Following are some homologous series and their


functional groups that are covered in the Pure
Chemistry syllabus:

● Alkanes – Do not have any functional groups. There


are only C-C and C-H covalent bonds in the
molecule.
● Alkenes – Contain the carbon-carbon double bond,
C=C.
● Alcohols – Contain the hydroxyl group, -OH.
● Carboxylic acids – Contain the carboxyl group,
-COOH.
Naming of Organic Compounds

The naming of organic compound is divided into


three parts:

Part 1: Length of the parent chain i.e. the number of


carbon atoms in the longest continuous (unbroken)
chain [also known as the Prefix]

meth
Prefix eth- prop- but-
-

Number of carbon atoms in


1 2 3 4
molecule

Part 2: Functional Group found in main parent


chain [also known as the Suffix]

Homologous series alkane alkene alcohol carboxylic acid

Suffix -ane -ene -ol -oic

Part 3: Side group that are attached to the main


parent chain [also known as Substituent]
Substituent -Cl -Br -I -CH3

Name of side group chloro bromo iodo methyl

For example, ethene is an alkene with two carbon


atoms per molecule.

Full Structural Formula of Ethene


For example, propanol is an alcohol with three
carbon atoms per molecule.

Full Structural Formula of


Propanol
 Formulae

They are four types of formulae that we can use to


represent a particular organic compound. This also
means that you will be tested in Chemistry
examinations on all four types of formulae which
are:
● Empirical  formula which is the simplest whole no.
ratio of atoms of each element
● Molecular formula which is the total no. of atoms of
each element in each molecule
● Structural formula which shows how atoms are
arranged in the molecule
● Full Structural formula which shows all the bonds
between atoms in a molecule

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