Formulae, functional groups and terminology

What the syllabus asks of you

• Draw and interpret the displayed formula of a molecule to show all the atoms and all the bonds
• Write and interpret general formulae of compounds in the same homologous series, limited to: (a) alkanes, CnH2n+2 (b) alkenes, CnH2n (c) alcohols, CnH2n+1OH (d) carboxylic acids, CnH2n+1COOH
• Identify a functional group as an atom or group of atoms that determine the chemical properties of a homologous series 7 State that a structural formula is an unambiguous description of the way the atoms in a molecule are arranged, including CH2=CH2, CH3CH2OH, CH3COOCH3 8 Define structural isomers as compounds with the same molecular formula, but different structural formulae, including C4H10 as CH3CH2CH2CH3 and CH3CH(CH3)CH3 and C4H8 as CH3CH2CH=CH2 and CH3CH=CHCH3 Core Supplement
• State that a homologous series is a family 9 Describe the general characteristics of a of similar compounds with similar chemical homologous series as: properties due to the presence of the same (a) having the same functional group functional group (b) having the same general formula (c) differing from one member to the next by a –CH2– unit (d) displaying a trend in physical properties (e) sharing similar chemical properties
• State that a saturated compound has molecules in which all carbon–carbon bonds are single bonds
• State that an unsaturated compound has molecules in which one or more carbon– carbon bonds are not single bonds