MCAT Organic Chemistry (Princeton Review)
Saturated Correct Answer: -Max number of H atoms attached
-Single bonds
Saturation Equation Correct
... [Show More] Answer: CnH2n+2
Unsaturated Correct Answer: -Double bonds, triple bonds, ring structures
Degrees of Unsaturation (DOU) Correct Answer: -DOU = sum of π bonds and rings
-1 DOU = 1 π bond or ring
Unstable Molecules Correct Answer: -High energy
-Reactive with their environment
-Shorter lifetimes
Stable Molecules Correct Answer: -Low energy
-Less reactive with their environment
-Longer lifetimes
Ideal Bond Angles Correct Answer: 109.5
Ring Strain Correct Answer: -Bond angles < 109.5
-Destabilizes ring
-Weakens C-C bonds
-Increase reactivity
Electronegative Substituents Correct Answer: -Withdraw electron density (oxygen, halogens)
Electropositive Substituents Correct Answer: -Donate electron density (alkyl groups)
Resonance Stability Correct Answer: -Occurs due to the delocalization of electrons
-pos/neg charge or lone pair e- adjacent to π bond
Bronsted-Lowry Acids Correct Answer: -Donate H+ and leave behind conjugate base
-More stable base = more acidic conjugate acid
4 Factors that affect acid strength by altering conjugate base stability Correct Answer: 1.) Electronegativity
2.) Resonance
3.) Induction
Nucleophiles (Nu-) Correct Answer: -Nucleus loving
-Electron rich
-Full or partial neg. charge
-Donates pair of electrons and forms covalent bond
-Lewis base
-Nucleophile "attacks" electrophile
Lewis Base Correct Answer: Donates pair of electrons
Nucleophile Trends Correct Answer: 1.) Charge: negative charge makes stronger nucleophile
2.) Electronegativity: nucleophilicity increases as electronegativity decreases
3.) Size: nucleophilicity increases as size increases
Nucleophilicity Trends Correct Answer: -Increase right to left across row
-Increase down a group
Basicity Trends Correct Answer: -Increase right to left across a row
-Increase up a group
Electrophiles Correct Answer: -Electron loving
-Electron deficient
-Full or partial positive charge
-Accepts a pair of electrons
-Lewis acid
Lewis Acid Correct Answer: Accepts pair of electrons
Good Leaving Group Trends Correct Answer: -Stable in solution
-Resonance stabilizes charge
-Weak base (Cl- < Br- < I-)
-Neutral leaving groups are more stable than charged leaving groups
Bad Leaving Group Trends Correct Answer: -Unstable in solution, usually due to their charge
-Strong bases (HO-, RO-, NH2-)
-Acid catalysis (protonation) can make a bad leaving group good
-Hydrogens or alkanes never leaving groups
Isomers Correct Answer: Different compounds with the same molecular formula
Structural (Constitutional) Isomers Correct Answer: -Different atomic connectivity
-Different chemical/physical properties
Conformational Isomers Correct Answer: -Same atomic connectivity
-Differ by rotation about 1 or more σ bonds
-Identical chemical/physical properties
-Cannot be isolated
Cyclohexane Most Stable Conformation Correct Answer: -Chair
-More stable to have larger groups in equatorial position (minimizes steric interactions)
Chirality Correct Answer: -Not superimposable mirror images
-No plane of symmetry
Chiral Centers Correct Answer: -sp3 hybridized
-Tetrahedral geometry
-Four different substituents
Calculating Number of Possible Isomers Correct Answer: 2^n
-n = # of chiral centers
Dextrorotatory (d) Correct Answer: (+) = clockwise rotation
Levorotatory (l) Correct Answer: (-) = counter-clockwise rotation
Optically Active Correct Answer: -Can rotate plane-polarized light
-d or l
-Physical property that cannot be predicted by structure and must be measured with polarimeter
Absolute Configuration (R or S) Correct Answer: -R = clockwise rotation
-S = counter-clockwise rotation
Stereoisomers Correct Answer: -Same atomic connectivity
-Differ in spacial arrangement of substituents
Enantiomers Correct Answer: -Non-superimposable mirror images
-Each has the opposite configuration at ALL chiral centers
Diastereomers Correct Answer: -Non-superimposable, non-mirror images
-Opposite configuration for at least one but not all chiral centers
Geometric Isomers Correct Answer: -Subset of diastereomers
-Restricted in rotation about a double bond or ring
-Do not require chiral centers
-All chemical/physical properties are different
-cis and trans [Show Less]