Organic Chemistry #1: Organic Formulas and Nomenclature (Slides and Student Led Tasks)

LESSON OBJECTIVE: Identify characteristic organic functional groups and understand the naming and drawing conventions for organic molecules.

In this lesson we introduce the discipline of organic chemistry, in particular introducing different formulas to represent organic molecules, key functional groups and the rules concerning organic nomenclature. This is lesson one in our organic chemistry series for Unit 14 An introduction to organic chemistry (from the Cambridge International AS Chemistry Curriculum (9701) 2019-2021 curriculum).

Learning Outcomes:
(taken from the Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry (9701) 2019-2021 curriculum)
14.1 Formulae, functional groups and the naming of organic compounds
a) interpret and use the general, structural, displayed and skeletal formulae of the following classes of compound:
(i) alkanes, alkenes
(ii) halogenoalkanes
(iii) alcohols (including primary, secondary and tertiary)
(iv) aldehydes and ketones
(v) carboxylic acids, esters
(vi) amines (primary only), nitriles

b) understand and use systematic nomenclature of simple aliphatic organic molecules with functional groups detailed in 14.1 (a), up to six carbon atoms (six plus six for esters and amides, straight chains only)

d) deduce the possible isomers for an organic molecule of known molecular formula

e) deduce the molecular formula of a compound, given its structural, displayed or skeletal formula