19. The Simple Compounds
                                   of Carbon
  Previous PageNext Page
      Reactions of Hydrocarbons

Although these reactions (right) are slow at room temperature, they are selfsustaining once triggered because of the large amount of heat they give off.

With a less electronegative element such as chlorine, the reaction that occurs is a simple displacement of one or more hydrogens, instead of destruction of the chain (right).

Chlorination, too, usually results in a mixture of products with varying degrees of substitution. The different mono- and dichloropropanes that can result from chlorinating propane are shown behind the buttons. Trichloropropanes and higher chloro-substitutions also are formed.

The dichloropropanes illustrate again the systematic way of naming organic compounds. Carbon atoms are numbered consecutively in the longest straight chain that can be traced through the molecule, then side chains and substituents are identified according to the carbon to which they are attached.

The "monster" (bottom button) has the perfectly good systematic name of 1-bromo-2-chloro-2-methylpropane.

 

 

  Page 15 of 35 HomeGlossary