Formulae Functional Groups And Terminology
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Notas de aula
Organic Formulae
- Organic compounds contain carbon (except metal carbonates, CO₂, CO).
- A hydrocarbon contains only hydrogen and carbon atoms.
- The displayed formula shows the spatial arrangement of all atoms and bonds.
- In displayed formulae, show all bonds between atoms (e.g., O–H bond in alcohols).
- Other representations: general formula and structural formula.
Displayed formula example

Homologous Series
- A homologous series is a family of organic compounds with the same functional group and similar chemical properties.
- The functional group is a specific arrangement of atoms responsible for characteristic reactions.
- Key series: alkanes (C–C), alkenes (C=C), alcohols (–OH).
- All members have the same general formula and differ by CH₂.
- Example: ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and propanol (C₃H₇OH) both have general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH.
Table of compounds & their functional groups
Saturated & Unsaturated Compounds
- Saturated compounds have only single carbon-carbon bonds (C–C).
- Alkanes are saturated; general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂.
- First three alkanes: methane (CH₄), ethane (C₂H₆), propane (C₃H₈).
- Unsaturated compounds contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C).
- Alkenes are unsaturated; general formula CₙH₂ₙ.
- First three alkenes: ethene (C₂H₄), propene (C₃H₆), butene (C₄H₈).
- Mnemonic: Saturated = Single bonds; Unsaturated = doUble bonds.
Ethene (C2H4) — displayed formula
Naming Organic Compounds: Stems & Suffixes
- The stem indicates the number of carbon atoms in the longest chain: meth- (1), eth- (2), prop- (3), but- (4), pent- (5), hex- (6).
- The suffix indicates the functional group: -ane (alkane), -ene (alkene), -anol (alcohol), -anoic acid (carboxylic acid).
- Example: C₃H₆ with C=C is propene; C₃H₇OH is propanol.
- For chains longer than 2 carbons, use a number to locate the functional group (e.g., propan-1-ol, but-2-ene).
- Numbering starts from the end that gives the lowest numbers.
Naming suffixes
Naming Carboxylic Acids & Esters (Extended)
- Carboxylic acids end in -anoic acid; the –COOH carbon is always C1, so no number needed.
- Esters are named from the alcohol and carboxylic acid that formed them: alkyl alkanoate.
- The alcohol part (C–O single bond) gives the first part (e.g., methyl, ethyl).
- The carboxylic acid part (C=O) gives the second part (e.g., methanoate, ethanoate).
- Example: CH₃COOCH₂CH₃ is ethyl ethanoate.
Methyl ethanoate (C3H6O2) — displayed formula
Displayed Formulae Examples
- Propene: 3-carbon chain with a C=C double bond between C1 and C2.
- Propan-1-ol: 3-carbon chain with –OH on C1.
- Methyl methanoate: HCOOCH₃ – alcohol part = methyl, acid part = methanoate.
- Always show all bonds, including C–H and O–H, in displayed formulae.
Propan-1-ol (C3H8O) — displayed formula
Slides
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Questões de prática
Prévia grátis — 8 de 56 perguntas. Cadastre-se para ver todas.
1.Complete the sentence about hydrocarbons.
EasyA hydrocarbon is a compound that contains only ____ and ____ atoms.
2.Which of the following is the general formula for alkanes?
Easy- ACₙH₂ₙ₊₂
- BCₙH₂ₙ
- CCₙH₂ₙ₋₂
- DCₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH
3.What is the functional group of alcohols?
Easy4.Alkenes are saturated compounds.
EasyTrue or false?
5.Complete the sentence about homologous series.
EasyAll members of a homologous series have the same ____ group and the same general formula.
6.Match the number of carbon atoms to the correct stem (prefix).
Medium- 1 carbon
- 2 carbons
- 3 carbons
- meth
- eth
- prop
7.What is the name of the compound with the formula CH₃CH₂CH₂OH?
Medium8.Which of the following is an unsaturated compound?
Medium- AC₂H₆
- BC₂H₄
- CC₃H₈
- DCH₄
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