Carbon Chemistry

Organic CompoundsOrganic compounds are those compounds found in any organism that is living or was once living containing carbon.

-- compounds lacking carbon and not from living organisms referred to as “inorganic”

Organic Compounds

Organic compounds are those compounds found in any organism that is living or was once living containing carbon.

Carbon – The Element of Life

Carbon’s unique atomic structure allows it to covalently bond with up to four other atoms

-- carbon is the simplest element on the periodic table that also has four valence electrons

Drawing of carbon and it’s bonding ability:

Properties of HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds, made up of only two elements

-- they have low melting and boiling points.

-- hydrocarbons are flammable

-- hydrocarbons are nonpolar and mix poorly with water—think, oil and water.

-- hydrocarbons are used for many of our fuels

Methane Propane Diesel

Properties of Hydrocarbons-- Liquid hydrocarbons do not burn, only in the vapor form

-- The longer the chain, the most likely to remain a liquid/solid

-- Methane = gas

-- Propane = liquid under pressure, gas in air

-- Butane = high volatile liquid

-- Gasoline = volatile liquid

-- Diesel = non-volatile liquid

-- paraffin = solid

Saturated There are two kinds of hydrocarbons, saturated and unsaturated

Saturated hydrocarbons – hold the maximum number of hydrogen atoms as possible (each carbon is bonded to four different atoms)

-- there are NO DOUBLE BONDS in a saturated hydrocarbon

UnsaturatedUnsaturated hydrocarbons – hold less than the maximum number of hydrogen atoms (some carbons are only bonded to two or three different atoms)

-- there are one or more double or triple bonds in an unsaturated hydrocarbon

From Unsaturated to Saturated

The fewer the double bonds, the more solid the fat/oil is at room temperature.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Linoleic-acid-from-xtal-1979-3D-balls.png

Structural FormulasWhen we write a simple chemical formula, such as CH4, we are actually writing what we call a molecular formula

Molecular Formulas – show the atoms and the number of atoms involved in a molecule but nothing else

In organic chemistry, it is often more useful to show structural formulas instead

Structural Formulas – show each type of atom and how they are arranged in a molecule

CH4 H – C – H

Molecular Formula Structural Formula 3-D Structure

H

H

IsomersStructural formulas are important in organic chemistry because of isomers

Isomers are two compounds with the SAME MOLECULAR formulas but different structural formulas

-- they have different chemical and physical properties

C3H8O

propan-1-ol propan-2-ol methoxyethane(n-propyl alcohol) (isopropyl alcohol)

methoxyethane

The names of the simplest hydrocarbons:

Hydrocarbon Molecular FormulaMethane (Natural Gas) CH4

Ethane C2H6

Propane C3H8

Butane (Lighter fluid) C4H10

Pentane C5H12

Hexane C6H14

Octane (Gasoline) C8H18

Decane C10H22

Dodecane C12H26

Heating Oil C14-C20

Paraffin Wax C25H52

Crude Oil C20-C50

Hydrocarbons The alkenes have a double bond between at least two carbons. These are all unsaturated.

HydrocarbonsThe alkynes have a triple bond between at least two carbons.

These are all unsaturated and highly reactive.

Functional Groups

Alcohols

Esters

Benzene

Aldehyde

Ketone

Ether

Amide

Functional groups-are bound to the carbon and gives the compound some sort of property.

For Example: Esters all have a sour taste and strong odor.

Ethyl acetateNail Polish Remover

Because of their strong odors, esters are used in industry as artificial flavors and/or odors for things like gum, candy, soda,

candles, soaps, and perfumes.

Ethyl lactate Butter

Methyl cinnamateStrawberry

Prop-2-enyl hexanoate Pineapple

Ethyl valerateApple

Isobutyl acetate Cherry

Isoamyl acetateBanana

Ethyl cinnamateCinnamon