ORGANIC
CHEMISTRY
WHAT IS AN ORGANIC COMPOUND
AND WHAT ARE ITS PROPERTIES ?
• ORGANIC CHEMISTRY IS THE STUDY OF CARBON AND
ITS COMPOUNDS
• FOUND IN FOSSIL FUELS, PLANTS, ANIMALS
• EXAMPLES INCLUDE: GASOLINE, OIL, SUGARS
• HYDROCARBON – CONTAINS ONLY THE ELEMENTS H &
C
• THEREFORE, HYDROCARBONS ARE ORGANIC, BUT NOT ALL
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ARE HYDROCARBONS
WHY IS CARBON SO SPECIAL?
• HAS 4 VALENCE ELECTRONS, SO IT CAN
BOND 4 TIMES TO ACHIEVE A STABLE
OCTET
1. NONELECTROLYTES
(DO NOT CONDUCT
ELECTRICITY)
PROPERTIES OF
ORGANIC 2. REACT SLOWLY
COMPOUNDS BECAUSE THEY ARE
COVALENT
(NONMETAL +
NONMETAL)
3. USUALLY LOW
MELTING POINT AND
BOILING POINT
4. INSOLUBLE AND
IMMISCIBLE IN WATER
TYPES OF CHEMICAL FORMULAS
Molecular Formula- shows the # of
atoms of each element in a compound
(least informative formula)
Ex. Propane = C3H8
TYPES OF CHEMICAL FORMULAS
Structural Formula- shows the number
of atoms of each element AND the
arrangement of the atoms; most
informative formula
Ex. Propane =
TYPES OF CHEMICAL FORMULAS
Condensed/Collapsed Formula-
combination of both structural and
molecular formulas
-each carbon is written with its
constituent hydrogens followed by the
proper subscript
Ex. Propane = CH3CH2CH3
TYPES OF CHEMICAL FORMULAS
Skeletal structural formula- also called
line angle structural formula.
• does not show carbon and hydrogen
atoms, but functional group such as –
OH and –NH2 must be shown.
• Usually written for cyclic and complex
compounds. And when the focus is on
functional groups.
HOMOLOGOUS SERIES
A series of compounds with similar chemical properties, in which
members differ from one another by the possession of an
additional CH2 group, is called a homologous series.
The word homologous is employed to explain a group of compounds with
the given features:
a) They can be made by similar processes.
b) They have similar chemical properties.
c) There is a regular gradation of the physical properties (that is, melting
or boiling points, solubility).
d) They can be symbolized via a general formula example: CnH2n+2 for
alkanes; CnH2n for alkenes, CnH2n-2 for alkynes, CnH2n+1 OH for
alkanols and CnH2n+1 COOH for the alkanoic acids.
e) Each and every member distinct in molecular formula from the
preceding compound through -CH2- example: in alkanes, CH4, C2H6,
C3H8, C4H10 and so on.
f) Each and every member includes at least one functional group example:
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS BY FUNCTIONAL GROUPS
Note: 'R' in the organic chemistry symbolizes an alkyl group or radical that is an
alkane less one hydrogen atom.
1. Alkanes- single bonded hydrocarbons contains
ONLY (C-C)
These bonds are considered saturated. They
have the maximum number of hydrogens
attached.
Remember that each bond represents 1 pair of
shared electrons (2 e- total per bond)
General formula: CnH2n+2
Example: Methane
Chemical Properties of Alkanes
• Alkanes are chemically less reactive compared
to the other carbon compound such as alkene,
alcohol or carboxylic acid.
• Alkanes do not react with chemicals such as
oxidizing agents, reducing agents, acids and
alkalis.
• Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbon with strong
carbon-carbon (C – C) bonds and carbon-
hydrogen (C – H) bonds.
• All the bonds are single bonds which require a
lot of energy to break.
• Alkane just only undergo:
• Combustion reaction
• Substitution reaction (with the presence of
ultraviolet light)
• Alkanes are chemically less reactive because
Physical Properties of Alkanes
• Under normal conditions of temperature and
pressure, methane, ethane, propane and
butane are gases, pentane up to C17H36 are
liquids, and C18H38 and higher are waxy
solids.
• Solubility
• Alkanes are insoluble in water because they are
non polar molecules which cannot form
hydrogen bonding with water molecules.
Conversely, soluble in most organic solvents
such as toluene, tetrachloromethane
• Boiling point
• Increase as the number of carbon atom
increases.
2. Alkenes- double bonded hydrocarbons,
contains (C=C)
These bonds are considered unsaturated
General formula: CnH2n
Example: Butene
There is no single carbon alkene because
it need at least 2 carbon to form the
double bond. Hence “methene” doesn’t
exist.
Alkenes are more reactive than Alkanes.
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbon
while alkanes are saturated hydrocarbon
with non-polar bonds. The C and H
atoms in alkanes are held by strong
covalent bonds.
Physical Properties of the Alkenes
• Alkenes are covalent compounds that consist of
simple molecules.
• The molecules of alkenes are held together by weak
Van der Waals forces (intermolecular forces).
• As covalent compounds, the physical properties of
alkenes are similar to alkanes.
• Boiling Point
• Alkenes have low melting/boiling points, owing to
the weak intermolecular force.
• At room temperature, ethene, propene and
butene exist as gases while pentene to decene
exists as a liquid.
• The boiling point of alkenes increases as the
number of carbon atoms per molecule
increases.This is because as the number of
carbon atoms per molecule of alkene increases,
the molecular size increases, and hence the inter
• Solubility and Conductivity
• Like most of the other covalent
compound, alkenes are insoluble in
water but dissolve in organic solvents.
• Alkenes do not conduct electricity,
because there are no free moving ions
in them.
• Density
• The density of alkenes is low (lower
than water).
• However, the density increases as the
number of carbon atoms per molecule
increases.
3. Alkynes – triple bonded hydrocarbons, contains (C- C triple bonds)
These bonds are considered unsaturated
General formula cnh2n-2
Example: propyne
Physical properties
• The properties of alkynes pretty much follow the same pattern of those of
alkanes and alkenes.
• Alkynes are unsaturated carbon that shares a triple bond at the carbon site
• All alkynes are odourless and colourless with the exception of ethylene
which has a slight distinctive odour.
• The first three alkynes are gases, and the next eight are liquids. All alkynes
higher than these eleven are solids
• Alkynes are slightly polar in nature
• The boiling point and melting point of alkynes increases as their molecular
structure grows bigger. The boiling point increases with increase in their
molecular mass
• Also, the boiling points of alkynes are slightly higher than those of their
ALKANES
Nomenclature of Alkanes
• Nomenclature = Naming method.
• All organic carbon compounds are named according to the
number of carbon in the molecule.
• The name is made up of two parts: the stem and the suffix.
• The stem tells the number of carbon atoms
• The suffix tells the homologous series of the compound.
Example:
Ethane is an alkane, the stem “eth” tell us that it has 2
carbon in the molecule, and the suffix “ane” indicates that it
is a member of the alkanes homologous series.
TABLE 2 THE CODE OF N0. CARBON
No of carbons Code No of carbons Code
1 meth 7 hept
2 eth 8 oct
3 prop 9 non
4 but 10 dec
5 pent 11 hendec
6 hex 12 dodec
TABLE 3 MOLECULAR FORMULA OF THE FIRST 8 MEMBERS OF ALKANES.
Number of Carbon Molecular Formula Name
1 CH4 Methane
2 C2H6 Ethane
3 C3H8 Propane
4 C4H10 Butane
5 C5H12 Pentane
6 C6H14 Hexane
7 C7H16 Heptane
8 C8H18 Octane
ALKENES
NAMING ALKENE
• AS ALKANE, THE NAME OF STRAIGHT-CHAIN ALKENES IS
ALSO MADE UP OF TWO COMPONENT PARTS, THE STEM
AND THE SUFFIX.
• WE USE THE SAME CODE FOR THE STEM, AS THE ALKANE
(SEE TABLE 2).
• THE SUFFIX FOR ALKENE IS “ENE”.
ALKYNES
• AS ALKANE, THE NAME OF STRAIGHT-CHAIN ALKYNES IS
ALSO MADE UP OF TWO COMPONENT PARTS, THE STEM
AND THE SUFFIX.
• WE USE THE SAME CODE FOR THE STEM, AS THE ALKANE
(SEE TABLE 2).
• THE SUFFIX FOR ALKENE IS “YNE”.
3 What are isomers?
Isomers have the same molecular formula
but are rearranged in a different structure
with different chemical and physical
properties.
• At least 4 carbons must be present in a
molecule to have isomers
• Methane, ethane, and propane DO
NOT have any isomers
What are isomers?
Butane is the first molecule to have isomers.
The larger the molecule (the more carbon
atoms), the more isomers the molecule will
have
3 ways to make an isomer:
1. Make a branch (on a non-terminal
carbon)
2. Move a branch
3. Move a multiple bond (a double or
triple bond)
What are isomers?
Pentane Isomers
What are isomers?
Pentene Isomers
ALKANES
• Count the longest parent chain of carbon atoms – name that chain
• When there are two longest chains of equal length, pick the chain with the greater
number of substituents as the parent chain.
• Number the parents chain starting with the end of the chain nearest a subsitituent
(side groups).
• Identify the atoms or groups of atoms that are attached to the parents chain. They
are known as subsitituent that replace H atoms on the parents chain. Ex alkyls and
halogens.
• Name the substitution (f-fluoro, cl-chloro, br- bromo, i-iodo, -NO2 – nitro, -OH –
hydroxy, -NH2- amino, CH 3- methyl, C2H5 - ethyl)
• When two or more subsituent are present, list them in alphabetical order.
• Notice that if there are more than one substituent, you must indicate
all of their locations (which # C they’re attached to)
• When two or more substituent of the same alkyls substituent present,
use the prefixes “di-” for 2, “tri-” for 3, “tetra-” for 4, “ penta-” for 5,
“ hexa”- for 6 and so on to avoid having to name the alkyls group
ALKYL &SUBSTITUENT
• Alkyls are named from …”yl”, Thus ,-CH3 becomes methyl,
CH3CH2- becomes ethyl, CH3CH2CH2- becomes propyl,
CH3CH2CH2CH2- becomes butyl
HOW CAN WE NAME AND DRAW
SUBSTITUTED HYDROCARBONS?
chloromethane
HOW CAN WE NAME AND DRAW
SUBSTITUTED HYDROCARBONS?
dichloromethane
HOW CAN WE NAME AND DRAW
SUBSTITUTED HYDROCARBONS?
F H
H-C–C–H
H H
1-fluoroethane
HOW CAN WE NAME AND DRAW
SUBSTITUTED HYDROCARBONS?
1,1 -difluoroethane
HOW CAN WE NAME AND DRAW
SUBSTITUTED HYDROCARBONS?
F H
H-C–C–H
H F
1,2 - difluoroethane
HOW CAN WE NAME AND DRAW
SUBSTITUTED HYDROCARBONS?
2-methylpropane
Naming alkenes
• Alkenes are also called olefins.
• Alkenes contain a carbon—carbon double bond.
• Terminal alkenes have the double bond at the end of the carbon chain.
• Internal alkenes have at least one carbon atom bonded to each end of the
double bond.
• Cycloalkenes contain a double bond in a ring.
Naming Alkenes
• Find longest continuous carbon chain for root.
• Use the suffix - en- to show the presence of
a C-C double bond.
• Number carbons in chain so that double
bond carbons have lowest possible numbers.
• List and number the alkyl groups present.
Assign Latin prefixes if necessary. List them
alphabetically. (For the purpose of alphabetizing,
ignore the prefixes di,tri, etc.)
• Write the name using proper punctuation.
Commas are used to separate numbers, and
hyphens are used to separate numbers and
letters.
• NAMING AN ALKENE IN WHICH THE LONGEST CARBON
CHAIN DOES NOT CONTAIN BOTH ATOMS OF THE DO
• RINGS HAVE “CYCLO” PREFIX - THE DOUBLE BOND MUST
BE NUMBERED 1,2
• ALKYNES
