Carbon Compounds
Organic compounds
A compound that contains carbon.
 “organic” means “of living things”

– Can occur naturally:
– Wood, paper
– Produces artificially also:
– Plastics, fuels, cleaning solutions
Organic Compounds

Many have low melting points and low
boiling points
– Causes them to be liquids and gases at room
temperature
Liquids generally have a strong odor
 Do NOT conduct electricity
 Do NOT dissolve well in water

Hydrocarbons
The simplest organic compound.
Hydrocarbons contain only the elements
hydrogen and carbon.
Examples:
methane, propane, butane
Hydrocarbons

Properties:
– ALL are flammable
– When burned a large amount of energy is
released
– Mix poorly with water
Hydrocarbons

Simplest hydrocarbon is methane (CH4)

Ethane – C2 H6

Propane – C3 H8

These are the molecular formulas – Create
the structural formulas.
Structural Formula

Shows the kind, number and arrangement
of atoms in a molecule.

Isomers
– Compounds that have the same molecular
formula but different structures.
– Each isomer is a different substance.
Show Structural Formula
 Molecular
Formula
–Methane CH4
–Ethane C2H6
–Propane C3H8
Structural Formulas
 Hydrocarbons
with 4 or more
carbon atoms can have straight or
branched arrangements.
Structural Formula

Butane C4H10
– Straight Chain
– Branched Chain
Double or Triple Bonds

Two carbon atoms can form single, double
or triple bonds

Bonds beyond triple bonds do not exist in
nature.
Hydrocarbons

Saturated Hydrocarbons
– (single bonds) carbon is “saturated” or filled
up with hydrocarbons
– Ends in -ane

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
– (double and triple bonds) have fewer
hydrogen atoms for each carbon compared to
saturated hydrocarbons
– Ends in –ene or -yne
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Ethene
– C2H4
– Simplest double carbon bond
– Produced by bananas

Ethyne
– C2H2
– Simplest triple carbon bonds
– acetylene
Substituted Hydrocarbons

Atoms of other elements replace one or
more hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon
Halogen compounds
 Alcohols
 Organic acids

Halogen Compounds

Trichloroethane
– C2H3Cl3

Perchloroethylene
– C2H2Cl2
Alcohols
-OH substituted for hydrogen atom in a
hydrocarbon
 -OH called hydroxyl group
 An alcohol contains one or more hydroxyl
groups

Alcohol

Methanol
– CH3OH

Ethanol
– One hydrogen atom from ethane, C2H6, plus
one hydroxyl group
– C2H5OH
Organic Acids

A substituted hydrocarbon that contains
one or more carboxyl groups
– -COOH
– Acetic Acid – main compound in vinegar
 CH3COOH
– Formic Acid – stinging from ants
 HCOOH
Esters

Alcohol + Organic Acid

Esters have:
Ester
– Pleasant fruity smells
– Ingredient in medications (ASA, … )
Polymers

A very large chain of molecules made of
chains of many smaller molecules.

Monomers – smaller molecules
Polymers

Natural Polymers
– Wool made by sheep
– Cotton plants make cotton
– Silk worms make silk

Synthetic Polymers
– Manufactured, or synthesized, in factories
– Polyester, nylon, plastics
Saturated, Unsaturated, or substituted hydrocarbon?
H
H
C
H
OH
Saturated, Unsaturated, or Substituted
Hydrocarbons?
H
H
H
C
C
H
H
H
C
H
C
H
H
H
Saturated, Unsaturated, or Substituted
Hydrocarbon?
H
H
C
H
OH
Saturated, Unsaturated, or Substituted
Hydrocarbon?
H
H
Cl
C
C
H
Cl
Cl
Saturated, Unsaturated, or Substituted Hydrocarbon?
H
H
C
H
C
H
Saturated, Unsaturated, or Substituted
Hydrocarbon?
H
H
C
H
COOH