Organic chemistry
Summary of Organic Compounds
Class
Alkanes
General Formula
CnH2n+2
Alkenes
CnH2n
Alkynes
CnH2n-2
Aromatic
Physical Properties/Features
<C5 gases; C5-C15 liquid; >C15 solids. Insoluble in
H2O . -methane main component of natural gas,
higher alkanes form crude oil and petroleum
distillates.
-physical properties similar to alkanes
-product of catalytic cracking
-ethenepolyethylene (plastic bags)
-propene propylene (clothing)
-physical properties similar to alkanes/alkenes
-acetylene (ethyne) is only important commercial
alkyne
-distinct (often pleasant) odours; hence aromatic
-from distillation of coal (benzene, toluene etc)
-from crude oil (cyclization and hydrogenation)
Haloalkane
(X=F,Cl,Br,I)
R-Xn
Amines
R-NH2
Nitroalkane
R-NO2
-low solubility in water
-somewhat pleasant odours
Alcohol
R-OH
-ethanol form fermentation of grains etc.
-solubility in H2O inverse to chain length
-poisonous
Aldehyde
-slightly soluble in water (solubility decreases with
chain length)
O
Ketone
R C H
O
ether
R C R'
R O R'
Carboxylic acid
-CH3Cl refrigerant
-CH2Cl2 propellant, solvent (caffeine extractor from
coffee)
-fishy, ammoniacal smell
-natural flavouring/odour in some cheeses
-somewhat soluble in water (solubility decreases
with chain length)
O
R C OH
Esters
O
R C O
Amide
O
R C NH2
R'
-Insoluble in water
Good solvent for other organic cpnds
Ethoxyethane (diethyl ether) used as anaesthetic
-ethanoic (acetic) acid produced by fermentation of
fruit sugar  ethanol  ethanoic acid (enzyme
req'd)
-synthesized from ethyne (acetylene)
- most esters have pleasant, fruity flavours
-natural and synthetic flavouring in flowers, fruit
and candy
-natural waxes=esters of long chain acids and
alcohol
-normally insoluble in water
Chemical Properties
non-reactive compared with
other organic cpnds. r’n types:
combustion, cracking and
substitution
same rxs as alkanes plus
addition r’n at double bonds
and polymerization
same as alkenes
similar to alkanes
-ring structure unreactive
-substitution of H'(s) on the
ring
-CFC'(s) ozone depletants
-CCl4 carcinogenic
-substitution r’ns
-organic base
R-NH2 + H2O  R-NH3 + OH-react with organic acids to
form amides
-unreactive at room temp.
-explosives
(TNT=trinitrotoluene,
nitroglycerine "gun-cotton")
-synthesized by hydration of
alkenes with H+ catalyst; C2H4
+ H2O C2H5OH
-synthesis of esters by rx with
carboxylic acids
-readily oxidizes to carboxylic
acid
2R-CHO + O2  2RCOOH
relatively unreactive
Highly flammable (unstable -obond)
-typical acid reactions
R-COOH + H2O  R-COO- +
H3O+
readily synthesized by r’n of
alcohol +carboxylic acid in
presence of catalyst (H2SO4)
-very weak bases involving NH2
-form strong bonds connecting
amino acids in proteins
(peptide bonds)
-strong bonds in "nylon"