Organic Chemistry
Carbon atoms and Organic Compounds
Carbon can have 4 bonds.
 These bonds can form in chains, rings, and branching networks to form
o Synthetic polymers-(man-made polymers) such as petroleum oil products- plastics
o Natural polymers – (naturally occurring) macromolecules (Nucleic Acids-DNA, RNA, Carbohydrates,
Proteins, and Fats).
Organic Compounds consist of two things:
1. Covalent compound
2. Must have Carbon atoms (usually H too)
a. C17H19NO3 – morphine (organic)
b. C19H28O2 – testosterone (organic)
Allotropes of Carbon
1. Diamonds
2. Graphite
3. Fullerene (discovered in mid-1980’s)
a. Nearly spherical
b. Most stable form is C60-buckminister fullerene
c. Forms in soot when Carbon is burned with a limited amount of Oxygen
4. Nanotube (discovered in 1991)
a. Hexagons that form a hollow cylinder
b. 10,000 times smaller than a human hair and between 10 to 100 times stronger than steel by weight
Hydrocarbons-only contain only Carbon and Hydrogen atoms
 Three types: (See naming organic chemicals for chemical formulas)
1. Alkanes (only single bonds)
2.
Alkenes (single bonds and at least one double bond)
3.
Alkynes (single bonds with at least one triple bond)
 Two kinds:
1.
Saturated Hydrocarbon-each Carbon atom has 4 single bonds (alkanes)
2.
Unsaturated Hydrocarbon-Each molecule has at least one double or triple bond (alkenes and
alkynes)
1
Isomers-Are 2 molecules with the same chemical formula but have different properties.
 C4H10O names: 1-butanol and 2-methyl-1-propanol
Naming and Uses of Organic Acids and Bases
First you need to determine the functional group.
Note: You can name organic compounds by their IUPAC name or Common name.
1. Alkanes: Family of saturated hydrocarbons.
 Cn H2n + 2
 Molecules that contain only H and C that are connected by single bonds and with –ane ending.
 Ex. Methane: CH4 (1 Carbon and 4 Hydrogens)
 Has sp3 hybrid, tetrahedral structure, with bond angles of 109.5 degrees.
 cyclo-A prefix added to an Alkane means a ring is included in the chemical formula
 Others:2-14
(IUPAC Names)
CH3CH3 Ethane
CH3CH2CH3
Propane
CH3(CH2)2CH3 Butane
CH3(CH2)3CH3 Pentane
CH3(CH2)4CH3 Hexane
CH3(CH2)5CH3 Heptane
Alkyl Group: If a H atom is removed from an alkane, a partial structure that remains is an alkyl.
 Alkyl groups are named by replacing the –ane ending of the parent alkane with an –yl ending.
 Ex. Methyl: -CH3
 Others:
-CH2CH3 Ethyl
-CH2CH2CH3 Propyl
-CH2(CH2)2CH3 Butyl
-CH2(CH2)3CH3 Pentyl
-CH2(CH2)4CH3 Hexyl
 The alkyl groups are often used to determine the common names of compounds.
 R represents an alkyl group
2. Alkenes: Family of unsaturated hydrocarbons with Carbon=Carbon double bonds. Cn H2n





Since fewer H’s than in alkanes they are unsaturated with an –ene ending.
Ex. Ethylene (IUPAC name is ethene): H2C=CH2
Ex. Propylene (IUPAC name is propene): CH3CH=CH2
Has sp2 hybrid, planar structure with bond angles of about 120 degrees.
Benzene is a aromatic hydrocarbon organic ring with C6H6
3. Alkynes: Family of unsaturated hydrocarbons with CarbonCarbon triple bonds. Cn Hn




alkynes use the suffix: -yne
Line drawing representation would be RCCH Ex. Propyne: CH3CCH
Has sp hybrid, linear structure with bond angles of 180 degrees.
Ex. Acetylene (IUPAC name is ethyne): H-CC-H
 Used to prepare acetic acid
Other Functional Groups (8 total)
1. Esters : common in plants and responsible for some distinctive flavors and scents (like perfume)
O
║
C˗O
 Flavor of pineapple is caused by ethyl butyrate
2. Amines: Family of organic derivatives of ammonia, NH3.
2





Amines are named by adding the ending –amine to the name of the hydrocarbon from which it is derived.
Organic bases contain nitrogen with unshared pair of electrons.
Line drawing representation would be R-NH2
Ex. Methylamine H3C-NH2 and Ethanamine CH3CH2-NH2
Found in caffeine –coffee drinks and soft drinks
3. Alcohols: -OH

Example: Ethanol (liquor) is used as a solvent for many flavorings: vanilla extract
4. Halide: -Group 17 elements
5.
6.
7.
8.
 Example: Freon-11 which is a refrigerant
Ketones: Example-Acetone (propanone) used for nail polisher remover
O
║
C
Aldehyde: Example- almond extract (benzaldehyde)
O
║
C˗H
Ether: -O- are used in perfumes
Carboxylic Acid: Family of the most useful building blocks for synthesizing other molecules.
O
║
 Line drawing representation would be
C
R
OH
 They are named by adding the ending –oic acid to the name of the hydrocarbon from which the acid is derived.
 Ex. HCOOH is methanoic acid, which is also known as formic acid.
 Found in soap
 Derivatives of carboxylic acid are:
O
║
C
R
X Acid halide (X=F, Cl, Br, or I)
With ending –yl halide
 Ex. Acetyl chloride (from acetic acid) where the R is CH3 and the X is Cl.
 Ex. Acetic anhydride where both the R’s are replaced with CH 3.
O
O
║
║
C
C
R
O
R Acid anhydride: With ending anhydride
3