Question

Match each description with a term from the following list: alkane, alkene, alkyne, alcohol, ether, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, ester, amine, amide, functional group, isomers. a. an organic compound that contains a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon b. a hydrocarbon that contains one or more carbon-carbon double bonds c. an organic compound in which the carbon of a carbonyl group is bonded to a hydrogen d. a hydrocarbon that contains only carbon-carbon single bonds e. an organic compound in which the carbon of a carbonyl group is bonded to a hydroxyl group f. an organic compound that contains a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more carbon atoms

Short answer

a. alcohol, b. alkene, c. aldehyde, d. alkane, e. carboxylic acid, f. amine

Step-by-step solution

- Identify the functional group for hydroxyl

Description 'a' mentions a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon. The term for an organic compound with this configuration is 'alcohol'.

- Double bonds in hydrocarbons

Description 'b' refers to a hydrocarbon with one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. The term for such compounds is 'alkene'.

- Carbonyl group bonded to hydrogen

Description 'c' mentions a carbonyl group bonded to a hydrogen. This is characteristic of an 'aldehyde'.

- Single bonds in hydrocarbons

Description 'd' describes a hydrocarbon with only carbon-carbon single bonds. These are known as 'alkanes'.

- Carbonyl group bonded to hydroxyl group

Description 'e' involves a carbonyl group bonded to a hydroxyl group, which defines a 'carboxylic acid'.

- Nitrogen bonded to carbon atoms

Description 'f' specifies an organic compound with a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more carbon atoms. This corresponds to an 'amine'.

Key concepts

alkanes

Alkanes are the simplest type of hydrocarbon. They are made entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon atoms in alkanes are connected by only single bonds, which means they are 'saturated'. This is why alkanes are also known as 'saturated hydrocarbons'. Examples of alkanes include methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and propane (C3H8).

Alkanes are quite unreactive because their bonds are strong and hard to break. However, they can undergo combustion, where they burn in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and a large amount of energy.

alkenes

Alkenes are hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond. This double bond makes them 'unsaturated', meaning they have fewer hydrogen atoms than alkanes. Examples include ethene (C2H4) and propene (C3H6).

Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes due to the presence of the double bond. This bond can break and form new bonds, making alkenes useful in chemical reactions such as polymerization to create plastics.

alcohols

Alcohols are organic compounds that contain one or more hydroxyl (–OH) groups bonded to a carbon atom. The simplest alcohol is methanol (CH3OH). Ethanol (C2H5OH) is another common alcohol found in alcoholic beverages.

The hydroxyl group makes alcohols polar, meaning they can dissolve in water and have higher boiling points than similar-sized hydrocarbons. Alcohols can participate in a variety of chemical reactions, like dehydration and oxidation.

aldehydes

Aldehydes contain a carbonyl group (C=O) with the carbon atom bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. The simplest aldehyde is formaldehyde (H2C=O).

Aldehydes are usually formed by the oxidation of primary alcohols. Due to the presence of the carbonyl group, aldehydes are quite reactive and participate in reactions like nucleophilic addition and polymerization.

carboxylic acids

Carboxylic acids contain a carbonyl group bonded to a hydroxyl group (–COOH). Acetic acid (CH3COOH), found in vinegar, is a common example. These compounds are acidic because they can donate a proton (H+) from the hydroxyl group.

Carboxylic acids engage in numerous chemical reactions, including esterification, where they react with alcohols to form esters. They are also important in biology—fatty acids, from which fats are derived, are carboxylic acids.

amines

Amines are organic compounds that contain nitrogen atoms bonded to one or more carbon atoms. They can be primary (one carbon group), secondary (two carbon groups), or tertiary (three carbon groups). An example of a simple amine is methylamine (CH3NH2).

The nitrogen in amines has a lone pair of electrons, making these compounds quite reactive and basic. Amines play vital roles in biology and medicine, forming the basis for amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.