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Chap 21: Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry is the chemistry of the compounds of carbon. Actually, it is the study of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are compounds containing hydrogen and carbon and no other element. There are many types of hydrocarbons. They are classified into several types according to their structure. Homologous Series: A homologous series is a family of organic compounds with similar chemical properties. E amples of homologous series are the al!anes, the al!enes, the alcohols, and the carbo ylic acids. "ompounds of the same homologous series contain the same functional group. A functional group is an atom or a group of atoms that gives a molecule its characteristic properties. #et us study the different e amples of homologous series now.

Alkanes:
The members of this group of hydrocarbons are distinguished by possessing the general molecular formula "nH$n%$, where n is a real number, for successive members of the group. &or e ample, the first member of the group is methane "H', in which n(). The second member is ethane "$H*, in which n($. And so on. +ote that in all the homologous series, whenever n(), the compounds name will start with methand the ne t part of the word will indicate the group it falls in. #i!e in methane, the ane shows that it belongs to the al!ane group. ,e will learn the names and formulas of the first ten members of the al!ane group. -ethane "H' Ethane "$H* .ropane "/H0 1utane "'H)2 .entane "3H)$ He ane "*H)' Heptane "4H)* Octane "0H)0 +onane "5H$2 6ecane ")2H$$ Structure: Each carbon atom is any molecule can ma!e four bonds. 7t may bond with less than four elements by ma!ing double and triple bonds, but the bonds must e8ual four. 7n al!anes, each carbon bonds with four hydrogen atoms. The molecular structures of the first three al!anes are9

-ethane "H'

Ethane "$H*

.ropane "/H0 And so on. 7 am sure you get the general idea. The al!anes are called unsaturated compounds. 7t is because they cannot ta!e part in addition reactions, as they do not have any double bonds that can be easily bro!en. They can, however, ta!e part in substitution reactions under the right conditions, which means that any other element or radical can ta!e the place of any hydrogen in the compound to form a new compound.

Alkenes:
The al!enes are members of a homologous series of general molecular formula " nH$n. &or e ample, ethene is "$H'. Every carbon in an al!ene ma!es bonds with four other elements, i.e. one carbon and other hydrogens. However, two of the carbons in each al!ene molecule are lin!ed by a double bond. 7t is shown in these molecular structures9

Ethene, "$H'

.ropene, "/H* :ou see, all carbons are still ma!ing four bonds, but there e ists one double carbon to carbon bond in each al!ene molecule. This double bond is the functional group of al!enes that 7 mentioned earlier. This double bond e ists in every al!ene and is responsible for the chemical properties of the al!enes. Al!enes are said to be unsaturated because of the double bond in their structures. This means that one molecule of it can combine with two hydrogen atoms ;or their e8uivalent< in addition reactions. &or e ample,

% H$
Polymerization: This will be treated in more detail in the ne t chapter about macromolecules. However, unsaturated molecules can, under the right conditions, =oin together to form giant molecules called polymers. All plastics and man>made fibers are polymers. Each polymer is made up of thousands of identical units called monomers. &or e ample, the polymer polyethene is made up of a very large number ;n< of ethene monomer molecules.

This is a monomer of ethene. :ou can see that the double bond is bro!en, leaving two free bonds to bond with any other element. ?o they form chains and each monomer in the chain bonds with the ne t monomer. 7t is then called a polymer.

This is the polymer. The @ig@ag lines show that this continues.

Alkynes:
The al!ynes are those hydrocarbons that contain one triple bond. The triple bond is their functional group and decides their properties.

Alcohols:
These are compounds containing not only the elements carbon and hydrogen, but also o ygen. #i!e hydrocarbons, they form a homologous series, with the general formula " nH$n%)OH. The OH group is its functional group, and determines its properties. 6o not confuse these with hydro ides of the al!alis, as alcohols ;or al!onols< are neutral. Alcohols can ta!e part in the reactions combustion and o idation. 7n the combustion reaction, alcohols burn in air to produce carbon dio ide and water. 7f we o idise alcohols, they become alcohols. &or e ample, if we o idise ethanol, it becomes ethanoic acid. The molecular structures of alcohols are li!e this9

-ethanol "H/OH

Ethanol "$H3OH
Alcohols are used mainly in ma!ing alcoholic drin!s, as solvents, and as fuels.

Carboxylic Acids:
The carbo ylic acids are a homologous series of organic compounds with the carbo yl functional group "OOH. They have the general formula "nH$n%)"OOH. "arbo ylic acids are wea! acids. They are a class of organic acids. The carbo ylic acids are all soluble. The more their carbon content, the more is their boiling point. #ets ta!e a loo! at the molecular structure of ethanoic acid.

Ethanoic acid "H/"OOH +ote that there are two carbons, but n(). the other carbon is a part f the functional group of the acid. Esters: Esters are formed when we react acids with carbo ylic acids. &or e ample, if we add ethanol and ethanoic acid together, we get water and an ester, ethyl ethanoate, "H /"OO"$H3. This reaction of alcohols with carbo ylic acid is called esterification. This is a reversible reaction, and we can gain the acid and alcohol bac! by boiling the ester with sodium hydro ide. This is in fact a reaction with water, and is called hydrolysis. Esters have a sweet smell, so they are used in ma!ing perfumes. They are also used in flavorings, as solvents, etc. Organic chemistry is not finished, but we will end this lecture here so that it does not get too complicated. Than! you for your attention students.

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