Living things are made of atoms covalently bonded to lorm molecules of organic compounds.

All these mole-

cules are based on carbon compounds. The complexity of life requires a great variety of diñerent compounds.
The great variety ol organic compounds is possible because every carbon atom can bond with other carbon
atoms to lorm chains and rings. These chains and rings are often found bonded to atoms of other elements.
such as hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. This explains the millions of organic compounds that exist.

Note that not all carbon compounds are classified as organic compounds. The oxides ol carbon and com-
pounds containing carbonate and hydrogen carbonate ions are classified as inorganic compounds.

1. Write down the definition and characteristics for the formulas below. Also, draw an example for each of
them:

Examp/e

Empirical formula:

Molecular formula:

Stmctural formula:

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 Displayed formula:

Skeletal formula:

Images retrieved and rrodifed lrorr Cann, P ¿\ Huges. P. (2C 15! International AS level and A chemistry. UK. Hooder Education.

There are many classes of organic compounds. Within a class of compounds all the compounds consist ol
molecules with a particular atom, or grouping of atoms, called a functional group. Diflerent classes of com-
pounds have diflerent functional groups. The functional group determines the characteristic chemical properties
oJ the compounds that contain that specific functional group.

2. Within a class of compounds all the compounds consist ol molecules with a particular atom, or grouping ol
atoms, cailed a functional group. Write down what a functional group is.

Organic nomenclature

There are millions of organic compounds. That could make organic chemistry confusing; however, in order to
avoid this. the compounds are named in a very logical way. Chemists have a system of naming organic com-
pounds that can be applied consistently. 7his means that they can communicate with each other clearly when
referring to organic compounds.

The class ol hydrocarbons called alkanes provide the basis of the naming system. The stem of each name
indicates how many carbon atoms are in the longest chain in one molecule of the compound. Look at the follow-
ing table to see the differences between diflerent functional groups and families:

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 F the name ends ... the compound belongs to the Example
in ,.. &miIy ...
-ane The alkanes Ethane, CzH‹

-ene The alkenes Ethene, CzH‹

-yne The alkynes Ethyne, C›H 2

-o/ The alcohols Ethanol, C2H OH

-oie acid The œrboxylic acids Ethanoic acid, CH3COOH

As you might notice, all ol them have the same root which is eth- which is a way to state the number ol carbon
atoms in the molecule. The particle eth- stands lor 2 carbon atoms. Depending on the number ol carbon atoms
in the molecule, we will use the following roots:

This in the name ... meana this many cartion Example - Alkane family
atoms ...

Melh- 1 Methane, CH..

Elh- 2 Ethane, C2Hs

Prop- 3 Propane, C›He

8ut- 4 Buæne, C‹H10

Pent- 5 PenÖne. C»H12

" Hex- 6 Hexane, C6H14

3. Classify the following names mom these compounds in a functional group family and state the number of
carbon atoms in the molecule:

Molecule name Family Number

carbon atoms

Propene

Penlanol

Butanoic acid

Hexane

Butyne

Piopanol

Butene

Propane

Pen(yne

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 4. Draw the displayed and skeletal formulas for the following alkanes.

, Name Displayed Skeletal

Propane

Pentane

Hexane

Image s created by Cados Pefia for the both grade chemistry

program.

Try to build these structures with the molecular models!

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