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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3:04 minutes

Problem 7a

Textbook Question

What is the index of hydrogen deficiency for each of the following molecular formulas?
(a) C₆H₁₂O₆

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the concept of Index of Hydrogen Deficiency (IHD). IHD is a measure of the number of degrees of unsaturation in a molecule, which includes double bonds, triple bonds, and rings. It is calculated using the formula: 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.

Step 2: Identify the molecular formula provided in the problem. For part (a), the molecular formula is C₆H₁₂O₆. Note that oxygen atoms (O) do not affect the IHD calculation directly, as they do not contribute to the degree of unsaturation.

Step 3: Plug the values from the molecular formula into the IHD formula. Here, C = 6, H = 12, and there are no nitrogen (N) or halogen (X) atoms. The formula simplifies to: IHD = (2(6) + 2 - 12)/2.

Step 4: Perform the arithmetic inside the formula step by step. First, calculate the term 2C + 2, which is 2(6) + 2 = 14. Then subtract the number of hydrogens (H), which is 14 - 12 = 2. Finally, divide the result by 2 to determine the IHD.

Step 5: Interpret the result. The IHD value represents the number of degrees of unsaturation in the molecule, which could correspond to double bonds, triple bonds, or rings. This provides insight into the structure of the compound.

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Key Concepts

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

Index of Hydrogen Deficiency (IHD)

The Index of Hydrogen Deficiency (IHD) is a calculation used to determine the degree of unsaturation in a molecular formula. It indicates the number of rings and/or multiple bonds present in a compound. Each double bond or ring contributes one to the IHD, while each triple bond contributes two. The formula for calculating IHD is 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.

Molecular Formula Interpretation

A molecular formula provides the number of each type of atom in a molecule but does not convey structural information. For example, C₆H₁₂O₆ indicates a compound with six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms. Understanding how to interpret this formula is crucial for calculating the IHD, as it allows for the identification of the elements involved and their contributions to the overall structure and saturation of the molecule.

Degree of Unsaturation

The degree of unsaturation refers to the presence of double bonds, triple bonds, or rings in a molecule, which affects its reactivity and stability. A higher degree of unsaturation typically indicates more reactive sites within the molecule. In the context of IHD, each unit of unsaturation corresponds to a specific structural feature, such as a double bond or a ring, which is essential for predicting the behavior of organic compounds in chemical reactions.

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