Chapters 1 - / All Chapters with Answers
and Rationals
conformation - ANSWER: the three dimensional shape of a molecule at a given instant that can
change as a result of rotation about sigma bonds
conformational analysis - ANSWER: The investigation of the various conformations of a compound
and their relative stabilities, their energy.
conformer - ANSWER: different conformations of a molecule
constitutional isomers - ANSWER: molecules that have the same molecular formula but differ in the
way the atoms are connected
cycloalkane - ANSWER: an alkane in which carbon chain arranged in a closed ring
1,3-diaxial interaction - ANSWER: The interaction between an axial substituent and the other two axial
substituents on the same side of the cyclohexane ring.
dipole-dipole interaction - ANSWER: Type of intermolecular force in which opposite poles of
neighboring dipole molecules are drawn together; an interaction between the dipole of one molecule
and the dipole of another molecule.
eclipsed conformation - ANSWER: Occurs when substituents are directly aligned, causing substantial
repulsion between the substituents and an unfavorable conformation. Also called cis-conformation; a
conformation in which the bonds on adjacent carbons are aligned as viewed looking down the
carbon-carbon bond.
equatorial bond - ANSWER: a bond of the chair form of cyclohexane that juts out from the ring in
approximately the same plane that contains the chair
ether - ANSWER: organic molecule that contains an oxygen atom between two carbon atoms, R-O-R
flagpole hydrogen - ANSWER: also known as: transannular hydrogens- the two hydrogens in the boat
conformation of cyclohexane that are closest to each other.
functional group - ANSWER: the center of the reactivity in a molecule; specific cluster of atoms
attached to the carbon skeleton of organic molecules that enters into reactions and behaves in a
predictable way
gauche conformer - ANSWER: a staggered conformer in which the largest substituents bonded to the
two carbons are gauche to each other; that is, they have a dihedral angle of approximately 60 degrees
angle strain - ANSWER: Five and six membered rings are more stable than three or four, which results
when bond angles deviate from the ideal bond angle of 109.5 degrees.
geometric isomers - ANSWER: same formulas, same bonds, different orientation
They have the same molecular formula and the same order of attachment but a different orientation
in space that CANNOT be overcome by rotation around a sigma bond.
half-chair conformation - ANSWER: the least stable conformation of cyclohexane
, heat of formation - ANSWER: The change in energy when one mole of a compound is formed from its
components under standard state conditions. When it is negative, energy is released when it is
formed.
homolog - ANSWER: a member of a homologous series
homologous series - ANSWER: a family of compounds in which each member differs from the one
before in the series by one methylene (CH2) group
hydrocarbon - ANSWER: A compound that contains only the elements carbon and hydrogen
hydrogen bond - ANSWER: The intermolecular force occurring when a hydrogen atom that is bonded
to a highly electronegative atom of one molecule is attracted to two unshared electrons of another
molecule; usually strong dipole-dipole attraction 5kcal/mol between a hydrogen bonded to O, N, or F
and the non-bonding electrons or O, N, or F of another molecule.
hyperconjugation - ANSWER: delocalization of electrons by overlap of carbon-hydrogen or carbon-
carbon sigma bonds with an empty p orbital
induced-dipole-induced-dipole interaction - ANSWER: an interaction between a temporary dipole in
one molecule and the dipole that the temporary dipole induces in another molecule. Also called
London Dispersion and sometimes called van der Waals forces;
the "random chance" if a partial negative and partial positive can be created
IUPAC nomenclature - ANSWER: The international system of rules for naming chemical compounds;,
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
melting point - ANSWER: the temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid. Overall, melting point
increases as the molecular weight increases.
Packing influences the mp.
methylene (CH2) group - ANSWER: a CH2 group
Newman projection - ANSWER: represent the three-dimeensional spatial arrangements resulting from
rotation about a sigma bond. The projection assumes that the viewer is looking along the longitudinal
axis of a particular C-C bond. the carbon in front is represented by a point; where three lines are seen
to intersect; and the carbon in the back is represented by a circle; The three lines emanating from
each of the carbons represent its other bonds.
packing - ANSWER: is a property that determines how well the individual molecules in a solid fit
together in a crystal lattice; the tighter the fit the more energy is required to break the lattice and
melt the compound.
parent hydrocarbon - ANSWER: the longest continuous carbon chain in a molecule and their
substituents are listed in alphabetical order, with a number to designate their position on the chain.
perspective formula - ANSWER: a method of representing the spatial arrangement of groups bonded
to an asymmetric center. Two bonds are drawn in the plane of the paper; a solid wedge is used to
depict a bond that projects out of the plane of the paper toward the viewer, and a hatched wedge is
used to represent a bond that projects back from the paper away from the viewer.
polarizability - ANSWER: indicates the ease with which an electron cloud of an atom can be distorted;
larger atoms are more polarizable.
primary alcohol - ANSWER: an alcohol in which the OH group is bonded to a primary carbon,
OH is attached to an end carbon of an alkyl