Organic Chemistry I

Professor Carl C. Wamser

Chapter 4 Skills

Knowledge - Level 1

know the terminology:

chain reaction: initiation, propagation, termination
van der Waals forces
dipole-dipole interactions
hydrogen bonding
bond dissociation energy

know the nomenclature rules for alcohols and alkyl halides


Concepts - Level 2

recognize the various factors that contribute to molecular polarity

recognize the differences between polarity and polarizability

recognize the various physical properties that depend on polarity and intermolecular interactions:

e.g., boiling point, melting point, solubility

understand the SN1 and SN2 mechanisms as different ways of accomplishing a substitution reaction

recognize that alcohols undergo substitution reactions from their protonated states, so that water is the effective leaving group

understand the features and uses of potential energy diagrams

understand the steps of a chain reaction mechanism

recognize the stability order for carbocations and alkyl radicals

understand the reasons for regioselectivity in halogenation


Applications - Level 3

classify alcohols as 1°, 2°, 3°

write IUPAC names for alkyl halides, alcohols, polyols

write common names for alkyl halides and alcohols

write acid-base reactions of alcohols

use bond dissociation energy data to calculate delta H for reactions

write chain reaction mechanisms, showing all steps

use the Hammond Postulate to estimate the structure of a transition state

identify reaction products from halogenation of alkanes


Analytical Skills - Level 4 & higher

write mechanisms for substitution and elimination reactions of alcohols

predict relative reactivities of different alcohols

determine the relative amounts of halogenation products from a given alkane, knowing relative reactivities