Organic Chemistry Questions and Short Answers

A carbocation is a positively charged, electron-deficient carbon atom that acts as a reactive intermediate in many organic reactions.

The arrangement of groups around a central atom creates its three-dimensional shape. And this shape affects how it interacts with other molecules or ions.

The interactions could be bonding - to form new bonds or nonbonding- affecting the physical properties of solubility, melting point, boiling point, polarity, and more.

Carbon's nondiscriminatory nature to form bonds with itself and other elements has led to a wide variety of small and large organic compounds. Carbon-hydrogen compounds called hydrocarbons are mostly inert; however, carbon with other elements (N, O, S, halogen) form functional groups, the reactive part of the molecule. The functional group part of the molecule is where chemical transformations occur. Some organic compounds can have more than one functional group.

Free radicals are generated due to the homolytic bond cleavage, a type of bond breaking where each atom holding the two-electron covalent bond gets one electron. Such a homolytic bond cleavage requires an input of energy, either in the form of heat or light.

The atoms or group of atoms are classified based on the Inductive effect as electron-withdrawing (-I) or electron-donating (+I) relative to Hydrogen.

The common functional groups showing +I and -I effect are:

An easy way to identify organic compounds is to look for several atoms in a long chain. These long chains are covalent bonds. So, the length of the bond and the factors affecting it becomes very important.

Such a bond formation occurs only when the atoms that want to form covalent bonds have the right concentration, orientation, and speed. 

London dispersion forces are the weak intermolecular forces that occur when the molecules are in close proximity to each other. The strength of these forces is determined by the atomic size of the element.

In smaller atoms, the atomic radius is smaller, which means that the positively charged nucleus holds the outermost valence electrons more firmly, leaving less room for their dispersion or polarization.

Among the various types of solids—metallic, ionic, and covalent—the molecular solid stands out for its intermolecular attractive strength.

A molecular solid is composed of distinct, unconnected molecules that are held together by weak van der Waals forces or Hydrogen bonds rather than stronger ionic or covalent bonds. 

London dispersion forces are weak intermolecular forces found in all atoms and molecules. However, it is an exclusive force binding the nonpolar molecules due to their lack of functional groups, avoiding competing interactions.

London dispersion force is the weakest of the three van Der Waal forces of interactions universally found in all the atoms and molecules. It is caused by the constant fluctuations in the electron position, creating a temporary dipole. When other nonpolar molecules are in its vicinity, the instantaneous temporary dipole formed earlier distorts the electron cloud of an adjacent molecule, creating another dipole.