Chemistry Questions and Short Answers

Carbon's nondiscriminatory nature to form bonds with itself and other elements has led to a wide variety of small and large organic compounds. Carbon-hydrogen compounds called hydrocarbons are mostly inert; however, carbon with other elements (N, O, S, halogen) form functional groups, the reactive part of the molecule. The functional group part of the molecule is where chemical transformations occur. Some organic compounds can have more than one functional group.

The functional group is the agent providing a molecule its quintessential character and is responsible for molecular reactivity.

It is a group of two to four atoms that connects with the rest of the molecule with a single covalent bond. Its position in a molecule can be internal or terminal.

Radical initiators are chemical species that quickly produce free radicals by light and heat exposure. Examples include Halogens (Cl₂), AIBN (R-N=N-R), peroxides (R-O-O-R), acetophenone, benzophenone, etc.

A radical reaction usually happens in three steps- Initiation (creation of free radicals), Propagation (multiplication and growth of radical reaction), and Termination (stopping of the free radical reaction).

Radical inhibitors are chemical species that inhibit radical reactions by halting the chain propagation step.

Examples of such inhibitors are Hydroquinone, BHT (2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol), etc.

Free radicals are generated due to the homolytic bond cleavage, a type of bond breaking where each atom holding the two-electron covalent bond gets one electron each. The homolytic bond cleavage requires an input of energy, either in the form of heat or light.

A carbocation is a positively charged, electron-deficient ion of carbon with only 6 valence electrons from the preferred 8 for covalent bonding. Therefore, it acts as an electron-accepting reactive intermediate in many organic reactions.

After accepting two electrons, it can transform from a less stable to a more stable uncharged molecule.

A carbocation is a positively charged, electron-deficient carbon ion that acts as a reactive intermediate in many organic reactions.

The central carbon in a carbocation has only 6 valence electrons instead of the preferred 8 by covalent bonding. As a result, it has only three covalent bonds and, therefore, trivalent.

A carbocation is a reactive intermediate with only 6 valence electrons from the usual 8 electrons for carbon by covalent bonding. This makes the carbon atom bear a positive charge and possess three bonds instead of four.

A carbocation is a positively charged, electron-deficient carbon atom that acts as a reactive intermediate in many organic reactions.

A metal atom is large, so the nucleus cannot attract and hold its outermost electrons. The metal loses those electrons and becomes positively charged kernels. The electrons then flow in the solid structure passing between these positive kernels.