Organic Reactions
Complete combustion reactions:
Hydrocarbon or Alcohol + O2  CO2 + H2O
Substitution reaction:
alkane + halogen → haloalkane +hydrogen halide
CH4+ Cl2 →CH3Cl + HCl
CH3Cl + Cl2 → CH2Cl2+ HCl
Addition Reactions
A) Halogenation (adding halides)
alkene + halogen  haloalkane
B) Hydrogenation (adding hydrogen)
alkene + hydrogen  alkane
C) Hydrohalogenation (adding hydrogen halides)
alkene + hydrogen halide  haloalkane
D) Hydration (adding water)
alkene + water  alcohol
Hydrohalogenation and hydration follow Marknovnikov’s Rule which states that the hydrogen is added
to the carbon with the most hydrogen atoms originally bonded to it.
Elimination Reactions * not included in summary table / not in textbook
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Alkyl halides can become alkenes by elimination of a hydrogen and a halide ion from adjacent
carbon atoms and in presence of OH- ion (basic solution)
Dehydration Reactions
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
The removal of a hydrogen atom and a hydroxyl group (ROH) producing a smaller molecule and
water
Alcohols can be dehydrated to alkenes using sulfuric acid
Condensation Reactions
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The combination of two molecules to form a larger molecule by the removal of water
Alcohols can be condensed to ethers using sulfuric acid
A carboxylic acid and an amine can condense to from an amide
Esterification

This is also a type of condensation reaction
carboxylic acid + alcohol  ester + water
Oxidation Reactions
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Oxidizing agents and oxidation reactions will be discussed in more detail later in this course
In inorganic chemistry an oxidizing agent accepts electrons during a chemical reaction
In organic chemistry an oxidizing agent increases the number of carbon to oxygen bonds in an
organic molecule
The symbol (O) represents oxidizing agents. Common oxidizing agents include:
o Potassium dichromate K2Cr2O4
o Hydrogen peroxide
H2O2
o Potassium permanganate K2MnO4

Oxidation of a primary (1°) alcohol produces an aldehyde

Further oxidation of an aldehyde produces a carboxylic acid

Oxidation of a secondary (2°) alcohol produces a ketone

Tertiary (3°) alcohols cannot be readily oxidized due to a lack of hydrogen on the adjacent carbon.
This prevents the formation of water
Hydrolysis Reactions


The splitting of a molecule by the addition of water or its elements (oxygen and hydrogen)
As an example, a hydrolysis reaction is used to reverse an esterification
O
H3C C
O
O
CH2 CH2
CH3
+
Na OH
H3C C
-
O
+
HO
CH2 CH2
Reactions with Amines

Alkyl halides will react can react with ammonia (NH3), to produce amines

Reacting a 1° amine with an alkyl halide will result in the formation of a 2° amine

Reacting a 2° amine with an alkyl halide will result in the formation of a 3° amine
CH3