Organic Chemistry

Compounds which do not contain a benzene ring structure, such as alkanes

Compounds which contain a benzene ring (thus unsaturated). Ex. benzene, phenol

An electron deficient species which are positive or partially positively charged and thus attracted to parts of molecules which are electron rich.

An electron rich species which has a lone pair of electrons and may have a negative charge. This causes the species to be attracted to electron deficient parts of molecules. Ex. Cl-, NH3

An addition reaction occurs when two reactants combine to form a single product. This is characteristic for unsaturated compounds. Ex. C2H4 + Br2 –> C2H4Br2

A substitution reaction has occurred when one atom or group of atoms in a compound is replaced by a different atom or group of atoms. This is characteristic for saturated and aromatic compounds. Ex. CH4 + Cl2 –> CH3Cl + HCl

This reaction has occurred if the functional group of two reactants join together and in the process a small molecule such as water, hydrochloric acid or ammonia is lost. Ex. ROH (Alcohol) + R’COOH (Acid) –> R’COOR (Ester) + H2O

Homolytic fission is when a covalent bond breaks by splitting the shared pair of electrons between the two products, producing two free radicals, each with an unpaired electron.

Heterolytic fission is when a covalent bond breaks with both the shared electrons going to one of the products, producing two oppositely charged ions.