Organic Chemistry : Organic Functional Groups

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Organic Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Identifying Other Organic Compounds

Which of the following compounds has the molecular formula, ?

Possible Answers:

Hexyne

Benzene

Hexene

Hexane

Correct answer:

Hexene

Explanation:

The molecular formula follows the rule regarding the molecular formula of alkenes: . Therefore,  is the molecular formula for hexene.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Other Organic Compounds

What kind of organic compounds contain an  group?

Possible Answers:

Alcohols

All of these

Aldehydes

Ketones

Correct answer:

Alcohols

Explanation:

By definition, alcohols are compounds that contain an  (hydroxyl) group bonded covalently to the end of a hydrocarbon.

Example Question #3 : Identifying Other Organic Compounds

Ethanol  is characterized as what kind of alcohol?

Possible Answers:

Tertiary alcohol

Organic acid

Secondary alcohol

Primary alcohol

Correct answer:

Primary alcohol

Explanation:

Ethanol (or ethyl alcohol) is characterized as a primary alcohol since there is only one carbon-containing group that is directly attached to the carbon containing the  group.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Other Organic Compounds

Cholic acid 3d

What is the unsaturation number of cholic acid (shown), which is a steroid?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The unsaturation number is equal to the number of rings and pi bonds in a molecule.  Here, there are 4 rings and 1 double bond, so the unsaturation number is 5.  No formula is needed to calculate unsaturation number when a structural formula is given.

Cholic acid 3d

Example Question #51 : Organic Functional Groups And Molecules

Which of the following is an appropriate solvent for synthesizing Grignard reagents?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Grignard reagents are very strong bases, and therefore can be spoiled by protons. Grignard reagents are so basic in fact that any protic solvent will render them useless. Dimethyl ether is the only non-protic solvent, and is therefore the correct answer. 

Example Question #52 : Organic Functional Groups And Molecules

What is the functional group present in the following molecule known as?

Ether

Possible Answers:

Carboxylic acid

Ketone

Aldehyde

Ester

Ether

Correct answer:

Ether

Explanation:

Ether

The molecule pictured above is known as an ether because it contains an oxygen atom within the sequence of a carbon chain. (An oxygen atom bonded to two carbons in a carbon chain).

Therefore the correct answer is ether. All other answer choices are carbonyls, meaning that they contain a carbon atom double bonded to an oxygen atom. 

Example Question #13 : Identifying Other Organic Compounds

I.Screen shot 2015 12 17 at 9.41.22 pm

 

II. Screen shot 2015 12 17 at 9.11.02 pm

III. Screen shot 2015 12 17 at 9.41.18 pm

 

IV. Screen shot 2015 12 17 at 9.41.13 pm

Which option gives the order of decreasing acidity of the molecules provided?

Possible Answers:

IV>III>I>II

III>IV>II>I

I>III>II>IV

IV>II>III>I

Correct answer:

IV>III>I>II

Explanation:

IV>III>I>II

The most acidic compound is option IV because it contains a carboxylic acid group which is the most acidic organic functional group. Phenols are weak acids. Alcohols in solution are slightly less acidic than water and therefore are slightly basic. 

Example Question #53 : Organic Functional Groups And Molecules

What is the IUPAC name for the compound shown?

Img 1327

Possible Answers:

Cyclopentane

1-Cyclopentene

1-Cyclopentane

Cyclopentene

Correct answer:

Cyclopentene

Explanation:

The molecule's longest carbon chain has 5 carbons (thus, "pent"), and the one double bond makes it an alkENE (thus "pentene"). The longest chain is a ring structure (thus "cyclopentene"). Because the IUPAC rules automatically assign the location of the first double bond to carbons 1 and 2, there is no need for a number locand.

Example Question #54 : Organic Functional Groups And Molecules

What is the IUPAC name for the compound shown?

Img 1328

Possible Answers:

1,2-Butadiene

1,3-Butadiene

Butadiene

1,3-Butene

Correct answer:

1,3-Butadiene

Explanation:

The molecule's longest carbon chain has 4 carbons (thus, "but"), and the presence of two double bonds makes it an alkENE, more specifically, a diene (thus "butadiene"). Because there is more than one way in which the double bonds can be arranged (between C1-C2 and C2-C3, or between C1-C2 and C3-C4), it's important to place locants indicating the lower-numbered carbon in each double bond.

Example Question #55 : Organic Functional Groups And Molecules

What is the IUPAC name of the molecule shown?

Img 1324

Possible Answers:

Methylcyclohexane

1-Methylcycloheptane

1-Methylcyclohexane

Methylcycloheptane

Correct answer:

Methylcyclohexane

Explanation:

The molecule's longest carbon chain has 6 carbons (thus, "hex-"), and the lack of double bonds makes it an alkane (thus "hexane"). The longest chain is a ring structure (thus "cyclohexane"), and the one branching group is a carbon chain consisting of one carbon and no double bonds (a "methyl" group). Because there are no other functional groups on the molecule there is no need to put a number before the location of the methyl group (thus "methylcyclohexane").

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