13.

1 Formulae, functional groups and the

naming of organic compounds

Organic chemistry
 CONTENTS
• Organic chemistry

• Characteristics of carbon atom

• Hydrocarbon

• Hydrocarbon derivatives

• Functional groups

• Types of Formula

• Naming of organic compounds

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Organic chemistry
It is the study of carbon compounds

• Carbon atoms form strong covalent bonds with each other

• C-C bonds can be either single, double or triple bonds
• C atom can be arranged in straight chains, branched chains and rings
• Other atoms or group of atoms can be placed on the carbon atoms
• Groups can be placed in different positions on a carbon skeleton

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Characteristic of carbon atom: Catenation
• Catenation is the ability to form bonds between atoms of the same element
• Carbon forms chains, rings with single, double or triple covalent bonds with other C
atom

Bond Atomic radius (nm) Bond enthalpy (Kjmol-1)

C-C 0.077 348

• The larger the atom, the weaker the bond.

• Shielding due to filled inner orbitals and large distance from the nucleus

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Hydrocarbons
It is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon only

Saturated no pi bond
formation or all are
Aliphatic (R) single bonded
uncyclic/ open
structure Unsaturated Contain
pi bond or have
double or triple
Aromatic :
Hydrocarbons bonds
should be cyclic
(closed structure no
point of terminal)
Planar (2D structure)
has conjugated
double bond

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Hydrocarbon derivatives

Hydrocarbon derivatives are formed

when there is a substitution of a
functional group at one or more of these
positions
Order of priority must be observed

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Functional groups
• Organic compounds are classified by the
presence of characteristic functional group
• A functional group is defined as an atom or
a group of atoms that effectively
determines the chemical properties of an
organic compound
• Each functional group has its own
distinctive properties which means that the
properties if a compound are governed by
its functional groups
• Example: Propane, ethanol and propan-1-ol

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Functional groups

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Functional group and its nomenclature

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Functional groups

• Ethanol and propan-1-ol have similar

properties
• They contain the functional –OH (hydroxyl)
group
• They are classified into the same
homologous series

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Types of formulae
1. Molecular formula: the exact number of atoms of each element present in the
molecule
2. Empirical formula: the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in the molecule
3. Condensed formula: The minimal detail using conventional groups, for an
unambiguous structure
4. Structural/Displayed formula: shows both, the relative placing of atoms and the
number of bonds between them
5. Skeletal formula: is used to show a simplified organic formula by removing hydrogen
atoms from alkyl chains, leaving just a carbon skeleton and associated functional
groups

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Types of formulae

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Types of formulae
Deducing molecular and empirical formula

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Naming of organic compounds
• Systemic m=nomenclature can be
used to name organic compounds and
therefore, makes it easier to refer to
them
• The alkanes provide the basis of the
naming system and the stem of each
name indicates how many carbon
atoms are in the longest chain in one
molecule of the compound

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Naming of organic compounds
• If there are any side-chains or functional groups present, then the position of these
groups are indicated by numbering the carbon atoms in the longest chain starting at the
end that gives the lowest possible numbers in the name
• The hydrocarbon side-chain is shown in brackets in the structural formula
• CH3CH(CH3)CH2CH3
• The side-chain is named by adding ‘-yl’ to the normal alkane stem
• This type of group is called an alkyl group

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Naming of organic compounds
• If there are more than one of the same alkyl side-chain or functional groups, di- (for two),
tri- (for three) or tetra- (for four) is added in front of its name
• The adjacent numbers have a comma between them
• Numbers are separated from words by a hyphen

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Naming of organic compounds
• If there is more than one type of alkyl side-chain, they are listed in alphabetic order

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