1. Chapter 10.1: Organic chemistry Fundamentals
Organic chemistry focuses on the chemistry of compounds containing carbon

2. Some Important terms for this section
Catenation
Functional groups
Too many to list here
Homologous series
Nomenclature
Empirical formula
Molecular formula
Structural formula
Full structural formula
Condensed structural formula
Stereochemical formula
Stem
Suffix
Substituents
Prefix
Structural isomers
Carbons
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Arenes
Stabilization energy
Hydrocarbon skeleton

3. An organic compound: contains carbon and hydrogen
An organic compound: contains carbon and hydrogen. Over 10,000,000 known organic compounds.
Carbon, being in group 4, can form four covalent bonds with other elements. This allows it to form long chains with itself that can branch out in all directions.
Other elements bonding to the carbon atoms = potential for greater molecular diversity. Additionally, carbon can form double or triple bonds which further increases the potential diversity.
Other group 4 elements, including silicon, also have these unique features but do not possess anything near the molecular diversity potential that carbon does because, being larger, they simply cannot fit into the same configurations that carbon can.

4. Running acid into the alkali
A hydrocarbon can include other elements, like nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. These compounds would be referred to as impure hydrocarbons. There are four main subgroups of hydrocarbons:
Saturated: only single bonds; maximum number of hydrogens is present
Unsaturated: one or more double bonds; maximum number of hydrogens not present
Cycloalkanes: single bonded carbon chain arranged in a ring
Aromatics: carbon ring has alternating single and double bonds

5. The suffix stems from the types of functional groups present.
Naming organic compounds follows the guidelines set forth by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
The name is always based on the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms. This number determines the “stem” of the name.
The suffix stems from the types of functional groups present.
The table provides the prefix name with the number of carbons in the longest carbon chain in the compound.
Number of carbons
Stem
Side chain 1
meth -
methyl 2
eth -
ethyl 3
prop -
propyl 4
but -
butyl 5
pent -
pentyl 6
hex -
hexyl 7
hept -
heptyl 8
oct -
octyl 9
non -
nonyl 10
dec -
decyl
benzene ring ( )
benz-
Phenyl

6. If the compound is a pure hydrocarbon, containing no other functional groups, the following suffixes apply:
Alkanes contain only single bonds and always end with the suffix –ane
Alkenes contain one or more double bonds and end with the suffix –ene
Alkynes contain one or more triple bonds and end with the suffix -yne

7. Functional groups - specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions (“functions”) 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.

8. Series of organic compounds with: Similar general formula
A homologous series
Series of organic compounds with:
Similar general formula
Similar chemical properties
Gradation in physical properties.
General formula for straight-chain alkane: CnH2n+2
Methane
Ethane
Propane
Butane
These are all straight-chain alkanes and differ only by a successive CH2 group
As the molecular mass increases successively
Boiling point and van der Waals forces increase

9. A homologous series
Series of organic compounds with:
Similar general formula
Similar chemical properties
Gradation in physical properties.

10. Homologous series

11. Formulas: empirical, molecular, structural
Empirical formulas – a compound’s simplest whole number ratio of atoms it contains Derived from experimental combustion analysis Molecular formulas – compound’s actual number of atoms for each element in the molecule Can be deduced from empirical formula and molar mass Structural formulas – representation of how atoms are bonded in the molecule Three types: full structural formula – similar to Lewis dot structure (shows every bond and atom) condensed structural formula – groups atoms together to show bonding ; only 1 possible structure with this formula stereochemical formula – attempts to show relative position of atoms/groups around carbons (3D image – molecular geometry)

12. Types of formulas – summary