| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Hydrocarbons | organic compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen only. |
| Saturated Hydrocarbon | a hydrocarbon with single bonds only. |
| Unsaturated Hydrocarbon | a hydrocarbon containing carbon-to-carbon double bonds |
| Aliphatic Hydrocarbon | a hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in straight or branched chains |
| Alicyclic hydrocarbon | a hydrocarbon with carbon atoms joined together in a ring structure. |
| Functional Group | the part of the organic molecule suitable for the reactions. |
| Homologous Series | a series of organic compounds with the same functional group but with each successive member differing by CH2 |
| Alkanes | the homologous series with the general formula: CnH2n+2 |
| Nomenclature | a system of naming compounds. |
| Alkyl Group | an alkane with a hydrogen atom removed, eg CH₃, C₂H₅; |
| General Formula | the simplest algebraic formula of a member of a homologous series. eg CnH2n+2 |
| Displayed Formula | shows the relative positioning of all the atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them. |
| Structural Formula | shows the minimal detail for the arrangement of atoms in a molecule. |
| Skeletal Formula | a simplified organic formula, with hydrogen atoms removed from alkyl chains, leaving just a carbon skeleton and associated functional groups. |
| Structural Isomers | molecules with the same molecular formula but with a different structural arrangement of atoms. |
| Stereoisomers | compounds with the same structural formula but with a different arrangement of the atoms in space |
| E Isomerism | Entgegen groups on opposite sided of a C=C double bond |
| Z Isomerism | Zusammen groups on the same side of a C=C double bond |
| Homolytic fission | the breaking of a covalent bond, with one of the bonded electrons going to each atom, forming two radicals. |
| Radical | a species with an unpaired electron. |
| Heterolytic fission | the breaking of a covalent bond with both of the bonded electrons going to one of the atoms forming a cation and an anion. |
| Nucleophile | an electron pair donor |
| Electrophile | an electron pair acceptor |
| Addition Reaction | 2 reactants form 1 product |
| Substitution Reaction | 2 reactants form 2 products eg CH₄ + Br₂ = Ch₃Br +HBr |
| Elimination reaction | 1 reactant forms 2 products |
| Fractional Distillation | the separation of the compounds in a liquid mixture into fractions which differ in boiling point by means of distilling, typically using a fractional column. |
| Cracking | the breaking down of long-chained saturated hydrocarbons into a mixture of shorter-chained alkanes and alkenes. |
| Catalyst | lowers the activation energy of a reaction |
| Radical Substitution | a substitution reaction where a radical replaces a different atom or group of atoms. |
| Alkenes | the homologous series with the general formula: CnH2n |
| Electrophilic Addition | a type of addition reaction in which an electrophile is attracted to an electron rich centre or atom where it accepts a pair of electrons to forma new covalent bond. |
| Polymer | a long molecular chain made up from repeating monomer units. |
| Monomer | a small molecule that combines with many other polymers to from a polymer. |
| Biodegradable Material | a material that is broken down naturally in the environment by living organisms. |
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