A blend of Love for Writing and Chemistry

  Constitutional Isomers These isomers differ in the arrangement of atoms. There are five types of constitutional isomers.   Chain Isomers Consider the molecular formula, C 5 H 12 . The possible structures are,       The longest chain of carbon is also called the parent chain. In the three isomers, number of atoms in the parent chain are different.  So, the isomers which have different number of carbon atoms in the parent chain are chain isomers.    Functional Group Isomers The following are a few functional groups    As the name suggests, these have the same molecular formula but have different functional groups. Some examples of functional group isomers are    Position Isomers  These isomers  possess the same number of atoms in the parent chain and the same functional group, however, the position of the functional group is different.    In the above example, the alcohol group is in the second and the first...

Carbon is a very unique atom. It has the ability to form four bonds and can form bonds with so many elements in the periodic table. This property of carbon along with its catenation has led to the formation of a separate branch of chemistry, Organic chemistry.    The versatility of carbon atom leads to variation in arrangement.   Before we learn about the concept of isomerism there are a few terms that need to be understood.  Molecular Formula Molecular formula gives the information on the type and number of atoms in that particular molecule.  So, the molecular formula- C 2 H 4 consists of two atoms of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen.  Composition The word is self explanatory, it is to do with what the molecule contains. Basically, the information is obtained from its molecular formula.  Constitution This is given by the IUPAC name of the particular compound. The constitution describes the connectivity between the different atoms. Also, it gives us ...

Isomers are sets of molecules which possess the same molecular formula but have a different  arrangement of the atoms in space. This is the definition you might have read. Let us take an example.  Think about the formula of C₆H₁₂. What would its structure be?  Since it follows the CₙH₂ₙ, we know that it probably is an alkene.  An alkene is a hydrocarbon that possesses a double bond. But the location of the double bond can be identified only based on its IUPAC name. It can have the following possible structures.    Or it can even be a cyclic compound.      As you can see, each and every compound above has the same molecular formula but the arrangement of atoms in each case is different. Each of these compounds have a different IUPAC name. So, they are all isomers. C₆H₁₂. can have up to 25 isomers. There exist different types of isomers which I will write about in the next post. 

As mentioned in the previous post, preliminary tests act as a base of qualitative analysis. In this step, the physical characteristics of the organic compounds are observed.The various tests are, Colour  Small organic compounds are usually colourless. The colour in organic compound is due to the presence of a group called a chromophore.This group plays an essential part when we study the Ultra- violet spectra of organic compounds. Odour Certain functional groups show a characteristic odour. This can help us gauge the type of functional group present in the organic compound. For example, esters give off a fruity odour.  State Compounds can be either solid or liquid.  When the compound looks like talcum powder, it is an amorphous solid. Whereas, when the crystals are defined, it is considered crystalline.   Crystalline   Amorphous The basic difference between the two is the molecular arrangement. When the molecules are arranged in a proper order it is a cryst...

The analysis and identification of organic compounds in a lab is Qualitative analysis of organic compounds. An organic compound usually consists of Carbon, Hydrogen. These compounds may also contain oxygen, halogens, nitrogen, sulphur based on the functional group present.  We can divide the qualitative analysis into, Preliminary tests As the name suggests, these tests act as a base of the analysis. The preliminary tests consist of observing various physical characteristics such as color, odour, state, solubility and the ignition test. These tests help determine the steps to be followed. Test for Extra Elements Organic compounds contain other elements such as Halogens, Nitrogen, Sulphur, Oxygen. All the elements mentioned, except Oxygen , are determined by Lassaigne's test. Testing the presence of a functional group and confirming it with the synthesis of its derivative. This steps involves testing the presence of a functional group and then confirmed by the synthesis of its deri...

We know matter around us is classified into three states, Solids Liquids  Gases In the gaseous state, the inter-molecular spaces are very high and the forces are low. They are highly compressible and also possess low densities.  Gas laws was taught to me in grade 11 and honestly, I never did understand how to remember it! When I was in college, one of my lecturers made it so simple and boy was it easy to remember! But before I start writing about the gas laws, let us look at the various physical properties of gases.    Gas laws might seem confusing at first. But the key is to remember the physical property which is considered as a constant for each law. These laws were formulated by various scientists after extensive research.  Boyle's Law The law describes the pressure volume relationship while the temperature remains constant. It was given by Robert Boyle (1662). The law states that The volume of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its pressure ...