Scribd
Upload
59 views19 pages

Organic Chemistry: Dr. Walker

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds, which exhibit a tremendous diversity of structures and properties due to carbon's ability to form stable multiple bonds. Carbon forms the backbone of essential biomolecules like proteins, DNA, and pharmaceuticals, as well as synthetic polymers and materials in everyday products. The complexity of organic molecules ranges from simple hydrocarbons like methane to complex natural products such as palytoxin and the polymers that make up our genetic material.

Uploaded by

maria corpodean
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
59 views19 pages

Organic Chemistry: Dr. Walker

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds, which exhibit a tremendous diversity of structures and properties due to carbon's ability to form stable multiple bonds. Carbon forms the backbone of essential biomolecules like proteins, DNA, and pharmaceuticals, as well as synthetic polymers and materials in everyday products. The complexity of organic molecules ranges from simple hydrocarbons like methane to complex natural products such as palytoxin and the polymers that make up our genetic material.

Uploaded by

maria corpodean
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

Organic Chemistry

Dr. Walker
What is Organic Chemistry?
• Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds.
– Organic compounds have carbon AND hydrogen
– Carbon Dioxide is NOT organic

• The versatility and stability of carbon’s molecular


structures provides the enormous range of properties of its
compounds.

• Carbon can bond to other carbons


– Reason for the degree of structural complexity
Ridiculous Complexity
Palytoxin – made by species
of some species of seaweed
and coral

Synthesized by Kishi, et. al.


at Harvard in 1994
Organic Chemistry
• Carbon
– Has 4 valence electrons
– Makes 4 covalent bonds to fill its octet
• Can include double and triple bonds

– Hydrocarbon
• Compound with only carbon and hydrogen
Organic Chemistry in Everyday Life

•Smells & tastes: fruits, fish, mint


•Medications: aspirin, Tylenol, decongestants, sedatives, insulin
•Addictive substances: caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, narcotics
•Hormones/Neurotransmitters: adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin
•Food: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins
•Genetics: DNA, RNA
•Consumer products: plastics, nylon, rayon, polyester
Organic Materials
• Addition to previous notes
– Before, it was stated that covalent compounds
were mostly liquid/gas at room temp
– This is primarily for binary compounds (2
elements)

– More complicated structures can be solid at room


temp
General Formulas
• Alkanes
– Contains only single bonds
– Cx H2x+2
• Alkenes
– Contains at least one double bond
• Alkynes
– Contains at least one triple bond

• Alkenes and Alkynes are more reactive than


alkanes
Saturation
• Saturated: a carbon chain contains as many
hydrogens as possible.
• Saturated compounds contain only single C-H
bonds. Alkanes are saturated.

• Unsaturated means that a carbon chain


contains at least one multiple (double or
triple) bond.
– Alkene = double bond
– Alkyne = triple bond
Hydrocarbons
IUPAC Molecular Structural Boiling
name Formula Formula Point (°C)
.
Methane CH4 CH4 -161.5
Ethane C2 H 6 CH3CH3 -88.6
Propane C3 H 8 CH3CH2CH3 -42.1
Butane C4H10 CH3(CH2)2CH3 -0.5
Pentane C5H12 CH3(CH2)3CH3 36.1
Hexane C6H14 CH3(CH2)4CH3 68.7
Heptane C7H16 CH3(CH2)5CH3 98.4
Octane C8H18 CH3(CH2)6CH3 125.7
Nonane C9H20 CH3(CH2)7CH3 150.8
Decane C10H22 CH3(CH2)8CH3 174.1
Structure and Physical Properties

Methane Ethane Propane Butane


16 g/mol 30 g/mol 44 g/mol 58 g/mol
-161.5oC -88.6oC -42.1oC -0.5oC

• Larger molar mass = higher boiling point


– Bigger compound – higher boiling point
Petrochemicals
• Simple, small hydrocarbons are
petrochemicals
– Chemicals isolated from crude oil (petroleum)
• Octane – used in gasoline
• Propane – used in grills, heaters, etc.
• Butane – lighter fluid
Functional Groups
• Functional
Group –
group of
atoms which
control how
the molecule
reacts
Polymers
Polymers
Large molecules with many, many repeating
units, made from smaller molecules
CH2 CH2
n
Polyethylene
Polymers
• Nylon, Kevlar, and PVC are other examples of
manmade polymers

Nylon

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)


Natural Polymers

Proteins RNA
Natural Polymers

Polysaccharides
DNA
Pharmaceuticals
• Most pharmaceuticals are complex, organic
molecules
• Can be natural or manmade

aspirin penicillin Acetaminophen


(aka Tylenol)
Terms To Know
• Hydrocarbon
• Alkane
• Alkene
• Alkyne
• Saturated
• Unsaturated
• Petrochemicals
• Functional Group
• Polymers
Skills To Master
• Differentiating alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes
• Differentiating saturated and unsaturated
compounds
• Differentiating natural polymers and
manmade polymers
• Recognizing common pharmaceuticals

You might also like