Name
Chamberlain University
CHEM-120 Intro to General, Organic & Biological Chemistry
Prof. Name
Date
The objectives of this lab are as follows:
Build virtual models to learn about the structure of organic compounds.
Draw extended structural formulas of organic compounds.
Organic compounds are primarily based on carbon atoms. Along with carbon, these compounds often include nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen. Carbon has the ability to form a wide range of covalent compounds due to its bonding versatility. Compounds are formed when carbon shares electrons with other atoms, creating covalent bonds. Most biomolecules and drugs fall into the category of organic compounds.
In this laboratory exercise, you will create virtual models of organic compounds and draw their extended structural formulas. The online resource MolView will be used for building models. It is essential to carefully construct each compound as instructed and paste the images into this document. This hands-on activity provides valuable insights into the structural characteristics of organic compounds.
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that consist of hydrogen and carbon. They can appear in different forms, such as linear, branched, or cyclic, and can also be classified as saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic.
Using the virtual resource, build the extended structural formulas of the following hydrocarbons and record the condensed structural formulas:
Compound | Condensed Structural Formula |
---|---|
Propane | CH3CH2CH3 |
Butane | CH3CH2CH2CH3 |
Isobutane | (CH3)3CH |
Isopentane | (CH3)2CHCH2CH3 |
Ethylene | CH2CH2 |
Ethyne | CHCH |
Cyclohexene | – |
Benzene | – |
Propyne | CH3CCH |
Ethane | CH3CH3 |
Functional groups significantly influence the properties of hydrocarbons. Using the virtual resource, build the extended structural formulas for the following functional groups:
Alcohol
Ether
Ketone
Carboxylic Acid
Aldehyde
Ester
Amine
The following table identifies functional groups and their corresponding organic molecules based on condensed structural formulas:
Condensed Structural Formula | Name of Functional Group | Name of Organic Molecule |
---|---|---|
CH3CH2COCH3 | Ketone | Butanone |
CH3CH2CHO | Aldehyde | Propanal |
CH3OH | Alcohol | Methanol |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 | Amine | Pentylamine |
CH3CH2CH2COOH | Carboxylic Acid | Butanoic Acid |
Using the virtual resource, build the extended structural formulas for the following compounds:
Difluoromethane
Trichloromethane
Tetrachloromethane
Propanol
Ethanoic Acid
Combine propanol and ethanoic acid to synthesize propyl ethanoate, and record the extended structural formula.
Additionally, construct models for the following compounds:
Phenol
Dimethyl ether (Condensed: CH3OCH3)
Propanal (Condensed: CH3CH2CHO)
Hexanoic acid (Condensed: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2COOH)
Ethylamine (Condensed: CH3CH2NH2)
Amine – Proteins
Aldehyde – Carbohydrates (glyceraldehyde)
Carboxylic Acid – Lipids
Alcohol – Carbohydrates
Methyl butanoate creates an apple-like fragrance and flavor.
Condensed Structural Formula: CH3CH2CH2COOCH3
Compound | Functional Group | Application |
---|---|---|
Formaldehyde | Aldehyde | Tissue preservation |
Ethanol | Alcohol | Antiseptic and hand sanitizers |
Acetone | Ketone | Nail polish remover (solvent) |
Phenol | Aromatic hydrocarbon | Disinfecting sprays |
This laboratory activity enhanced my ability to recognize functional groups and name organic compounds. I learned to identify functional groups in condensed formulas and to visualize their structures through extended structural models. The lab also improved my understanding of naming conventions, including prefixes and suffixes. However, the time-consuming nature of this exercise occasionally detracted from the learning process.
I also realized that compounds often have multiple accepted names, which can cause confusion. In the case of esters, I am still uncertain whether the order of the acid and alcohol matters in the condensed formula. Despite these challenges, the lab was valuable, especially in showing how these concepts can be applied in real-world contexts, such as interpreting medication labels or Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Recognizing structures and functional groups quickly can be highly useful in healthcare and research careers.
Zumdahl, S. S., & Zumdahl, S. A. (2020). Chemistry: An Atoms First Approach (3rd ed.). Cengage Learning.
McMurry, J. (2021). Organic Chemistry (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Solomons, T. W. G., Fryhle, C. B., & Snyder, S. A. (2020). Organic Chemistry (12th ed.). Wiley.