Organic analysis key terms

Tollens' reagent

A solution of silver nitrate in ammonia used to test for aldehydes.

Bromine water

A solution of bromine in water used to test for alkenes and phenols.

Molecular Ion Peak

The peak in a mass spectrum that corresponds to the molecular weight of the intact molecule.

Fragmentation

The process by which a molecular ion breaks into smaller ions during mass spectrometry.

Molecular ion peak

The peak in a mass spectrum that corresponds to the intact molecule before fragmentation.

Fragmentation

The process by which a molecular ion breaks into smaller ions or fragments during mass spectrometry.

Tollens' reagent

A reagent used to test for aldehydes, consisting of silver nitrate in ammonia, which forms a silver mirror upon reaction with aldehydes.

Decolorization

The process in which a colored solution loses its color, often used to describe the reaction of alkenes with bromine water.

Infrared Spectroscopy

A technique used to identify functional groups in organic compounds by measuring the absorption of infrared radiation at different wavelengths.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule.

Fingerprint region

The region of an infrared spectrum below 1500 cm⁻¹ that contains unique absorption patterns for different compounds.

Carbonyl group

A functional group characterized by a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O), commonly found in aldehydes and ketones.

Infrared Spectroscopy

A technique used to identify and quantify substances based on their absorption of infrared light at specific wavelengths.

Molecular Vibration

The oscillation of atoms within a molecule, which can absorb infrared radiation and result in characteristic spectral features.