Summary
Organic chemistry is the study of the millions of covalent compounds of
the element carbon. These structurally diverse compounds vary from naturally
occurring petroleum fuels to DNA and the molecules in living systems. Organic
compounds also demonstrate human ingenuity in the vast range of synthetic
materials created by chemists. Many of these compounds are used as drugs,
medicines and plastics.
Organic compounds are named using the International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) system and the structure or formula of molecules can
be represented in various different ways. Organic mechanisms are studied, which
enable reactions to be explained.
In the search for
sustainable chemistry, safer agrochemicals and for new materials to match the
desire for new technology, chemistry plays a vital role.
Specification
3.3.1.1 Nomenclature
Organic compounds can be represented by:
• empirical formula
• molecular formula
• general formula
• structural formula
• displayed formula
• skeletal formula.
The characteristics of a homologous series, a series of compounds
containing the same functional group. IUPAC rules for nomenclature.
Students should be able to:
• draw structural, displayed and skeletal formulas for given organic
compounds
• apply IUPAC rules for nomenclature to name organic compounds limited
to chains and rings with up to six carbon atoms each
• apply IUPAC rules for nomenclature to draw the structure of an organic
compound from the IUPAC name limited to chains and rings with up to six carbon
atoms each.
3.3.1.2 Reaction mechanisms
Reactions of organic compounds can be explained using mechanisms.
Free-radical mechanisms:
• the unpaired electron in a radical is represented by a dot
• the use of curly arrows is not required for radical mechanisms.
Students should be able to:
• write balanced equations for the steps in a free-radical mechanism.
Other mechanisms:
• the formation of a covalent bond is shown by a curly arrow that starts
from a lone electron pair or from another covalent bond
• the breaking of a covalent bond is shown by a curly arrow starting
from the bond.
Students should be able to:
• outline mechanisms by drawing the structures of the species involved
and curly arrows to represent the movement of electron pairs.
3.3.1.3 Isomerism
Structural isomerism.
Stereoisomerism.
E–Z isomerism is a form of stereoisomerism and occurs as a result of
restricted rotation about the planar carbon–carbon double bond.
Cahn–Ingold–Prelog (CIP) priority rules.
Students should be able to:
• define the term structural isomer
• draw the structures of chain, position and functional group isomers
• define the term stereoisomer
• draw the structural formulas of E and Z isomers
• apply the CIP priority rules to E and Z isomers.