Functional groups and nomenclature
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Question
What is a functional group?
Answer
The **reactive atom or group of atoms** that defines an organic molecule's class and chemistry.
Question
What is a homologous series?
Answer
A family of compounds with the **same functional group** and the same general formula.
Question
Saturated vs unsaturated?
Answer
Saturated = only single C–C bonds (alkane); unsaturated = has a **C=C** (or C≡C) bond (alkene).
Question
Functional group and suffix of an alcohol?
Answer
**–OH** (hydroxyl); name ends in **-ol** (e.g. propan-1-ol).
Question
Functional group and suffix of a carboxylic acid?
Answer
**–COOH** (carboxyl); name ends in **-oic acid** (e.g. propanoic acid).
Question
Aldehyde vs ketone?
Answer
Both have C=O. Aldehyde = carbonyl at the **end** (-al); ketone = carbonyl in the **middle** (-one).
Question
What defines a halogenoalkane?
Answer
An alkane with a **halogen** (–F, –Cl, –Br, –I) in place of an H; named with a prefix (chloro-, bromo-…).
Question
Suffix for an alkene?
Answer
**-ene**, because it contains a **C=C** double bond (e.g. propene).
Question
Three parts of an IUPAC name?
Answer
**Stem** (number of carbons) + **suffix** (functional group) + **locant** (where the group is).
Question
Stems for 1–4 carbons?
Answer
1 = meth-, 2 = eth-, 3 = prop-, 4 = but-.
Question
What is a locant?
Answer
The **number** in a name showing the position of the functional group on the chain (e.g. the 2 in but-2-ene).
Question
How do you number the chain?
Answer
Give the functional group the **lowest possible locant**.
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Full study notes for Functional groups and nomenclature
Topic 3.2 hub
Functional groups: classification of organic compounds
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