Organic chemistry is concerned with the compounds of the element carbon. Here we introduce the basic principles of this huge topic.
4.1 - 4.3. Activity 1. Speaking Organically
Organic chemistry is concerned with the compounds of the element carbon. Carbon atoms can form four covalent bonds with a range of other elements.
Carbon chains form longer molecules and branches create a greater complexity.
Atoms of hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen will bond readily with carbon atoms and can ultimately form the molecules of life including amino acids and proteins.
4.1 - 4.3. Activity 2. Alkanes, Alkenes and other terms...
Students should:
- 4.1 know that a hydrocarbon is a compound of hydrogen and carbon only
- 4.2 understand how to represent organic molecules using empirical, molecular, general, structural and displayed formulae
- 4.3 know what is meant by the terms homologous series, functional group and isomerism
When carbon atoms bond they usually form 4 covalent bonds. Hydrogen atoms form one bond. Thus the simplest hydrocarbon molecule which can form is methane. This has the formula CH4 .
Watch both of the videos carefully pausing where instructed. Use the videos to answer the questions below:
4.3 Activity 3. Isomers: Same atoms, different arrangements
Isomers are two or more molecules which have the same atoms ( and therefore the same molecular formula) but a different arrangement of atoms. We need to use structural or displayed formulae to show the differences between isomers:
4.3 Activity 4. Functional Groups
Ethanol has the molecular formula C2H6O. The molecule contains the - OH functional group. This is shown by the semi structural formula ;C2H5OH and the fully structural formula CH3CH2OH
ethanoic acid has the -COOH functional group
4.4 Activity 5. It's in the name
butane : molecular formula C4H10
3D ball and spoke model
fully displayed formula ( straight chain)
methylpropane : molecular formula C4H10
3D ball and spoke model
fully displayed formula ( branched chain)
Students should:
- 4.4 understand how to name compounds relevant to this specification using the rules of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature
Activity 6
Students should:
- 4.5 understand how to write the possible structural and displayed formulae of an organic molecule given its molecular formula