Chapter 22 - Hydrocarbon Compounds

asymmetric carbon

a carbon with four different atoms or groups attached

cracking

a controlled process by which hydrocarbons are broken down or rearranged into smaller, more useful molecules.

Homologous Series

a group of compounds where there is a constant increment of change in molecular structure from one compound in the series to the next

Alkane

a hydrocarbon in which there are only single covalent bonds

Alkyl Group

a hydrocarbon substituent

Branched-chain Alkane

an alkane with one or more alkyl groups

Substituent

an atom or group of atoms that can take place of a hydrogen atom on a parent hydrocarbon molecule

Aromatic Compound

an organic compound that contains a benzene ring or any other ring in which the bonding is like that of benzene

Geometric Isomers

atoms joined in the same order but differ in the orientation of groups around a double bond

Cyclic hydrocarbons

compounds that contain a hydrocarbon ring

Unsaturated compounds

compounds that contain double or triple carbon-carbon bonds

Isomer

compounds that have the same molecular formula but different molecular structures

Structural isomers

compounds that have the same molecular formula but the atoms are joined together in a different order

Straight-chain Alkanes

contain any number of carbon atoms, one after the other

Alkenes

hydrocarbons that contain one or more carbon-carbon double covalent bonds

Alkynes

hydrocarbons that contain one or more carbon-carbon triple covalent bonds

Stereoisomers

molecules in which the atoms are joined together in the same order but the positions of the atom in space are different

Saturated Compounds

organic compounds that contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms per carbon atom

optical isomers

pairs of molecules that differ only in the way that four different groups are arranged around a central carbon atom

Condensed Structural Formula

some bonds and/or atoms are left out of the structural formula

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

straight chain and branched chain alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes

trans configuration

the methyl groups are on the opposite sides of the double bond

cis configuration

the methyl groups are on the same side of the double bond

Hydrocarbons

the simplest organic compounds contain only carbon and hydrogen