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

2. Molecular Representations

Functional Groups

Organic Chemistry

2. Molecular Representations

Functional Groups

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2:05 minutes

Problem 17c

Textbook Question

When we begin studying reactive intermediates, the designation of substitution will be especially important. Label the following carbocations as 1° , 2°, 3°, or 4° or based on the carbon bearing the positive charge.
(c)

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the carbon atom bearing the positive charge in the carbocation structure. In this case, the positively charged carbon is the one connected to a hydrogen atom and three other carbon atoms.

Step 2: Determine the number of carbon atoms directly attached to the positively charged carbon. Count the carbons bonded to it. Here, the positively charged carbon is bonded to three other carbon atoms.

Step 3: Recall the classification of carbocations based on substitution: A 1° (primary) carbocation has one carbon directly attached to the positively charged carbon, a 2° (secondary) carbocation has two carbons attached, a 3° (tertiary) carbocation has three carbons attached, and a 4° (quaternary) carbocation has four carbons attached.

Step 4: Compare the number of carbons attached to the positively charged carbon in this structure to the definitions above. Since the positively charged carbon is bonded to three other carbons, this carbocation is classified as a 3° (tertiary) carbocation.

Step 5: Conclude that the carbocation in the given structure is a tertiary (3°) carbocation based on the substitution pattern of the carbon bearing the positive charge.

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Key Concepts

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

Carbocation Classification

Carbocations are classified based on the degree of substitution at the positively charged carbon atom. A primary (1°) carbocation has one alkyl group attached, a secondary (2°) has two, a tertiary (3°) has three, and a quaternary (4°) has four. This classification is crucial for understanding the stability and reactivity of carbocations.

Stability of Carbocations

The stability of carbocations increases with the number of alkyl groups attached to the positively charged carbon. Tertiary carbocations are more stable than secondary, which are more stable than primary. This trend is due to hyperconjugation and the inductive effect, where alkyl groups donate electron density to stabilize the positive charge.

Hyperconjugation

Hyperconjugation is a stabilizing interaction that occurs when the electrons in a sigma bond (C-H or C-C) interact with an adjacent empty p-orbital of a carbocation. This delocalization of electrons helps to stabilize the positive charge, making more substituted carbocations (like tertiary) more stable than less substituted ones (like primary).

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Are the following compounds primary, secondary, or tertiary?

Textbook Question

Identify the functional groups in each of the following molecules. [The number of functional groups has been given to assist you.]

(d) [Two]

Textbook Question

Identify the functional groups in each of the following molecules. [The number of functional groups has been given to assist you.]

(b) [Two]

Textbook Question

Identify the functional groups in each of the following molecules. [The number of functional groups has been given to assist you.]

(a) [Three]

Textbook Question

Given the line-angle drawings shown, answer the following questions:

(i) How many carbons are in each molecule?

(ii) How many hydrogens are at the circled carbon?

(iii) Is the indicated (→) carbon or 1° , 2°, 3°, or 4°?

(h)

Textbook Question

Identify the functional groups in each of the following molecules. [The number of functional groups has been given to assist you.]

Textbook Question

When we begin studying reactive intermediates, the designation of substitution will be especially important. Label the following carbocations as 1° , 2°, 3°, or 4° or based on the carbon bearing the positive charge.

(b)

Textbook Question

Classify each hydrogen atom in the following compounds as primary (1°), secondary (2°), or tertiary (3°).

c. 2-methylbutane

d. cyclohexane

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