Organic Chemistry Fundamentals Flashcards

Which functional group is characteristic of an alcohol?

Answer: Hydroxyl (-OH)

Alcohols are defined by the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group attached directly to a carbon atom.

What is the general molecular formula for alkanes?

Answer: CnH2n+2

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with the formula CnH2n+2, meaning each carbon forms only single bonds and carries the maximum number of hydrogens.

Which of the following compounds is an ester?

Answer: CH3COOCH3

CH3COOCH3 (methyl acetate) is an ester, identifiable by the -COO- linkage formed from a carboxylic acid reacting with an alcohol.

Stereoisomers have the same molecular formula and connectivity but differ in:

Answer: The spatial arrangement of atoms

Stereoisomers share identical molecular formulas and bond connectivity but differ in the three-dimensional arrangement of their atoms in space.

In an addition reaction involving an alkene, which bond is broken to allow new groups to add?

Answer: C=C pi (double) bond

The pi bond of the C=C double bond breaks during addition reactions, allowing new atoms or groups to bond across what was the double bond.

Which class of organic compounds contains a carbonyl group (C=O) with at least one hydrogen directly bonded to the carbonyl carbon?

Answer: Aldehydes

Aldehydes (R-CHO) have the carbonyl carbon bonded to at least one hydrogen, distinguishing them from ketones where the carbonyl is flanked by two carbon groups.

What is the IUPAC name for the compound CH3CH2CH2OH?

Answer: 1-Propanol

CH3CH2CH2OH has a 3-carbon chain (prop-) with the hydroxyl group on carbon 1, so it is named 1-propanol.