Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

1. A Review of General Chemistry

Degrees of Unsaturation

Organic Chemistry

1. A Review of General Chemistry

Degrees of Unsaturation

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Problem 1a

Textbook Question

Given the molecular formula, calculate the index of hydrogen deficiency.
(a) C₆H₁₄O

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the concept of the Index of Hydrogen Deficiency (IHD). The IHD, also known as the degree of unsaturation, indicates the number of rings, double bonds, or triple bonds in a molecule. Each ring or double bond reduces the number of hydrogens by 2, while a triple bond reduces it by 4.

Step 2: Recall the formula for calculating IHD: IHD = (2C + 2 - H + N - X) / 2, where C is the number of carbons, H is the number of hydrogens, N is the number of nitrogens, and X is the number of halogens. For oxygen (O), it does not affect the IHD calculation and is ignored.

Step 3: Substitute the given molecular formula into the IHD formula. For C₆H₁₄O, the number of carbons (C) is 6, the number of hydrogens (H) is 14, and there are no nitrogens (N = 0) or halogens (X = 0). The formula simplifies to IHD = (2(6) + 2 - 14) / 2.

Step 4: Simplify the expression inside the parentheses. Calculate 2(6) + 2, then subtract 14.

Step 5: Divide the result from Step 4 by 2 to determine the IHD. This will give you the final value of the Index of Hydrogen Deficiency for the molecule C₆H₁₄O.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Molecular Formula

A molecular formula represents the number and types of atoms in a molecule. It provides essential information about the composition of a compound, indicating how many of each element are present. For example, C₆H₁₄O indicates there are six carbon atoms, fourteen hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom in the molecule.

Index of Hydrogen Deficiency (IHD)

The Index of Hydrogen Deficiency (IHD) is a measure of the degree of unsaturation in a molecule, indicating the number of rings and/or multiple bonds present. It can be calculated using the formula IHD = (2C + 2 + N - H - X) / 2, where C is the number of carbons, N is the number of nitrogens, H is the number of hydrogens, and X is the number of halogens. A higher IHD suggests more unsaturation, which affects the molecule's reactivity and structure.

Unsaturation in Organic Compounds

Unsaturation refers to the presence of double or triple bonds between carbon atoms or the presence of rings in organic compounds. These features reduce the number of hydrogen atoms that can be attached to the carbon skeleton compared to a saturated compound. Understanding unsaturation is crucial for predicting the reactivity and stability of organic molecules, as well as for determining their structural characteristics.

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