Unit 10: Organic Chemistry

What is a hydrocarbon?
What is an organic compound?
• Organic Compounds are a special category of
covalent compounds. This is because C can
make 4 bonds, which means that the basic shape
for most organic compounds is a tetrahedron.
• This also means that carbon can bond in many
different ways with the same elements .
H H H H
(ex) H – C – C – O – H and H – C – O – C – H
H H H H
Both have a molecular formula of: C2H6O
However, they are different compounds because
they have different structures. This means that
they have different properties. This is called an
isomer.
Structural Formula
• This means that we CANNOT just write the
molecular formula for an organic compound
because we still will not know what compound it
is. We have to be able to indicate the structure.
Structural Formula:
To show an organic compound, we can either
draw a structural formula
H H H H
(ex) H – C – C – C – O – C – H
H H H H

OR we can write a condensed structural formula that

still shows the order of the elements in the
compound without actually drawing the bonds.
(ex) CH3CH2CH2OCH3
What would the molecular formula be? C4H10O
Properties of Hydrocarbons
Another name for an organic compound that only
contains C and H is a hydrocarbon.
Hydrocarbons have specific properties.
Hydrocarbons are generally…
• Nonpolar and therefore insoluble in water
(remember “like dissolves like” and water is polar)
• Nonpolar molecules form LDF’s as IMF’s which
are weak. (Remember London Dispersion Forces
– LDF, get stronger with larger molecules)
(ex) Which would most likely be a gas?
CH4 or C8H18
• Weak IMF’s mean that hydrocarbons generally
have low melting points and boiling points.
Families of hydrocarbons
• Any group of hydrocarbons that have the
same basic structure are called a
homologous series or an organic family.
 Look at Table Q.
1. Carbon can make single bonds (1 shared
pair of electrons).
H H H
(ex) H – C – C – C – H
H H H
Hydrocarbons with all single bonds are called
alkanes and have a general formula of
CnH2n+2.
Families cont’d
2. Carbon can make double bonds (2 shared pair of
electrons).
H
(ex) H – C= C – C – H
H H H

Hydrocarbons with a double bond are called alkenes and

have a general formula of CnH2n.

3. Carbon can make triple bonds (3 shared pair of

electrons).
H
(ex) H – C= C – C – H
H

Hydrocarbons with a triple bond are called alkynes and

have a general formula of CnH2n-2.
Families cont’d

4. Carbon can make a ring structure.

(ex)

Hydrocarbons with a ring structure and alternating single and

double bonds are called aromatics and have a general
formula of CnHn. (while any straight chain of hydrocarbons
is called aliphatic.)
5. Carbon can make a network structure.

(ex)

Some hydrocarbons with a network structure are

 Nanotubes
 Buckminster fullerene (bucky balls)
 Diamonds
 Graphite
Saturated vs Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

• Saturated hydrocarbons:
hydrocarbons with all single bonds
(the carbon is saturated with H)
• Unsaturated hydrocarbons:
hydrocarbons with double or triple
bonds (the carbon could hold
more H than it is holding)
Naming Hydrocarbons
• On Table P find the parent name by counting
the number of carbon atoms in the longest
straight chain.
• Put -ane on the end if it’s an alkane.
Put -ene on the end if it’s an alkene.
Put -yne on the end if it’s an alkyne.
• If there is a double or triple bond, we want to
know where it is in the chain of carbons…so
we put a number to indicate which carbon the
double or triple bond is on (We want the
lowest number possible).
H H H
(ex) H – C – C =C – C – C – H
H H H H H
Branched Hydrocarbons
• A branched hydrocarbon contains an alkyl group
which is a branch of carbon(s) coming off of a
main chain of carbon atoms.

(ex) –C–C–C–

–C–

• Alkyl groups always show up as a prefix to the

name of the parent chain
 One carbon branch is called a methyl group
Two carbon branch is called a ethyl group
Three carbon branch is called a propyl group
• Don’t forget to indicate where on the hydrocarbon the
alkyl group is by giving it a number! (Lowest number
possible)
(ex) 2-methylpropane
More Branched Hydrocarbons
• If there are 2 or more of the same alkyl
groups use di, tri etc.
(ex) –C–C–C–C–C–C–

–C– –C–
• If there are 2 different alkyl groups,
they must be put into ABC order.
(ex) – C – C – C – C – C – C – C –
–C– –C–

–C–
Isomers
• Two compounds with the same
molecular formula (# of C, H, and
O atoms) but different structure.
• As the compound gets bigger,
there are more possible
arrangements for the atoms and
therefore more possible isomers
Butane has 2 isomers.
Octane has 18 isomers.
Decane has 75 isomers.
3 Isomers of pentane
(ex) pentane
Isomers Practice
• Are the following isomers of each
other?
–C–
(ex) –C–C–C–C–C–C–

–C–C–C–C–C–

–C–

–C–
Isomers?

(ex2) –C–C–C–
–C–

–C–
–C–C–C–
–C–

(ex3) –C–
–C–C–C–C–
–C–C–C–
–C– –C–
What is a Functional Group?
• Functional Group:
An atom or group of atoms bonded to a
hydrocarbon that gives it specific properties.
IUPAC means International Union for Pure and
Applied Chemistry.

** Most of the time, we will only deal with one

functional group at a time. Therefore, we will
be naming by changing the suffix of the name
to indicate the functional group. However if
there are multiple functional groups on the
parent chain, the most important functional
group is the suffix and least important of the
functional groups are named as prefix.
IUPAC Naming

Prefix- Parent-Infix-Suffix
(ex 2-chloropropanol

Tells the number of carbon atoms in the

• Parent: longest chain.
• Infix: Tells whether the parent chain is an
alkane, alkene, or alkyne.
• Suffix: Tells what the most important functional
group is (with the lowest #)
• Prefix: Tells the remaining functional groups on
the parent chain in ABC order.
IUPAC Naming
**All prefixes have to be put in ABC
order.

** The number always goes before

the functional group it refers to.

** Name the parent chain and then

take the “e” off and add the suffix
of the functional group.
Functional Groups
Amide:
Used in plastic, rubber, paper, and acrylic
paints
Name ends in -amide
H H H O
(ex) H – C – C – C – C – N – H
H H H H
O
(ex) CH3CH2CH2CH2CNH2
(ex) Why don’t we have to write #’s for
amides?
Functional Groups
Aldehyde:
Used for preservation. Aldehydes are
responsible for the fresh taste of most
foods.
Name ends in -al
H O
(ex) H – C – C – H
H
O
(ex) CH3CH2CH2CH2CH
(ex) Why don’t we have to write #’s for
aldehydes?
Functional Groups
Ketone:
Produced by our bodies as we burn fat. Used by
our bodies as a source of energy when we
don’t have food. Used as a solvent.
Name ends in -one
H H H O H
(ex) H – C – C – C – C – C – H
H H H H
H O H
(ex) H – C – C – C – H
H H
O
(ex) CH3CH2CCH2CH2CH3
(ex) Why is ethanone not possible?
Functional Groups
Alcohol:
Used in producing organic acids and for fuel.
Name ends in -ol
H H H H Primary alcohol:
(ex) H – C – C – C – C – O – H An alcohol group attached
H H H H to a carbon that is bonded
to only one other carbon
OH Secondary alcohol:
(ex) – C – C – C – An alcohol group attached
to a carbon that is bonded
to two other carbons
OH Tertiary alcohol:
(ex) – C – C – C – An alcohol group attached
CH3 to a carbon that is bonded
to three other carbons
OH
(ex) –C–C–C–C–C–C–
OH
Functional Groups
Organic Acid:
Used in flavorings, food and candy to get
a sour taste. Used to make buffers and
neutralize bases.
Name ends in –oic acid
(ex) CH3CH2COOH

(ex) – C – C – OH

O
(ex) – C – OH
Functional Groups
Ester:
Used in food flavorings. It is the chemical that is
responsible for the smell of flowers and fruits
and perfumes. Esters are also in TNT.
Name the alcohol end (single bonded O) as an
alkyl group.
Name the organic acid end and change the
ending to -oate.
O
(ex) CH3CH2C – O – CH2CH2CH3

O
(ex) -C– C – C – O – CCH3
Functional Groups
Amine:
It is the functional group in amino
acids. It is in caffeine.
Name ends in -amine

(ex) CH3CH2NH2

(ex) –C–C–C–N–
Functional Groups
Ether:
Used to be used as an anesthetic.
Name both ends like an alkyl group
and put in ABC order.
Name ends in -ether.
(ex) CH3OCH2CH3

**Table R is wrong.
(ex) CH3CH2OCH2CH3
Functional Groups
Halide:
Used in refrigerants and produced by car exhaust.
CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) are chemicals that
break down the ozone.
Name begins in chloro, fluoro, bromo, iodo.
H H H H
(ex) H – C – C – C – C – H
H H Cl H
Cl
(ex) – C – C – C = C

I Cl F
(ex) –C–C–C–C–C–C–C–
I F
Organic Reactions
Because organic compounds have a
different structure than other types
of molecular compounds, they
undergo different types of
reactions. There are 7 general
types of organic reactions.

**Don’t forget to balance after

writing the products of any
reaction.
Complete Combustion
Combustion reaction:
• Occur when a hydrocarbon and
O2 react.
– Complete combustion:
• Occurs when there is more than
enough O2 present.
• Products are always CO2 and H2O.

(ex) C6H14 + O2 

(ex) CH4 + O2 
Incomplete Combustion
Incomplete combustion:
• Occur when there is NOT
enough O2 present, and
therefore the products that are
made contain less O2.
• Products are CO and H2O or C
and H2O.
(ex) C6H14 + O2  CO + H2O
(ex) C4H10 + O2  C + H2O
Substitution Reactions
Substitution reaction:
• Occur when we have a
saturated hydrocarbon (alkane)
plus a halogen.
• Products are a halocarbon and
an acid from group 17.

(ex) – C – + F – F 

(ex) CH3CH3 + Br2 

Addition Reactions
Addition reaction:
• Occur when we have an
unsaturated hydrocarbon (alkene
or alkyne) plus a halogen.
• Product is 1 halocarbon.

(ex) – C – C – C = C – + Br – Br 

(ex) CH2CH2 + I2 
Fermentation Reactions
Fermentation reaction:
• Occur when we have a sugar
(CnH2nOn) plus an enzyme or
yeast (ends in -ase).
• Products are ethanol and CO2.

zymase
(ex) C11H22O11
yeast
(ex) C6H12O6
Esterification Reactions
Esterification (making esters) reaction:
• Occur when we have an organic acid
plus an alcohol.
• Occurs by dehydration synthesis.
• Products are an ester and H2O.
O
(ex) – C – C – C – OH + HO– C – C – 

O
(ex) – C – OH + HO – C – C – C – C – 
Saponification
Saponification (making soap) reaction:
• Occur when we have a fat plus a
strong base.
• Products are glycerol ( 1, 2, 3-
propantriol) and 3 soap molecules
(which is a metal bonded to a fatty
acid).
O
(ex) – C – O – C – C20H41
O
– C – O – C – C20H41 + 3KOH 
O
– C – O – C – C20H41
Polymerization
Polymerization (making polymers) reaction:
Polymer: any organic substance with
repeating units
Monomer: basic organic unit of any
polymer
• Occurs when monomers bond together in a
long chain to make a polymer.
– Addition polymerization:
• Occurs when you have an unsaturated
hydrocarbon.
• The double or triple bond is broken and
used to bond the monomers together in a
long chain.
• Product is a polymer.

(ex) n(CH2 = CH2) 

Condensation Polymerization
– Condensation polymerization:
• Occurs when you have a
monomer with 2 functional
groups.
• Occurs by dehydration synthesis.
• Product is a polymer.

(ex) HO – C – C – OH + HO – C – C – OH 
Proteins and Amino Acids
Proteins:
• polymers of amino acids.
Amino Acids:
• Have 2 functional groups: amine
and organic acid.
Amine α
group carbon
O Organic
(ex) NH2 – CH – C – OH acid

R side chain (determines

the amino acid)
Amino Acids
There are about 20 amino acids in the human body.
The difference between these amino acids is the
R group. Here are some examples.
O O
(ex) NH2 – CH – C – OH (ex) NH2 – CH – C – OH
CH3 CH2 – NH
ALA (alanine)
O
(ex) NH2 – CH – C – OH
CH2 – SH TRY (tryptophan)
CYS (cystein)
O O
(ex) NH2 – CH – C – OH (ex) NH2 – CH – C – OH
CH2CHCH3 CH2 –
CH3
LEU (leucine) PHE (phenylalanine)
 Making Proteins
**Due to the fact that amino acids have 2
functional groups, they polymerize using
condensation polymerization.

H O H O
(ex) H – N – CH – C – OH + H – N – CH – C – OH 
R R

Called a dipeptide
Types of Polymers
• Natural polymers:
hair, cellulose (wood), cotton,
DNA, proteins, starch, silk

• Synthetic Polymers:
nylon, polyester, plastics