What do degrees of unsaturation mean

No, you can't ever have a -Negative number of Degrees of Unsaturation. How does nitrogen affect degrees of unsaturation? The molecule contains one nitrogen, so you subtract one hydrogen from the molecular formula.

The two oxygens in the molecule you ignore. How do you find the molecular formula? Divide the molar mass of the compound by the empirical formula molar mass.

The result should be a whole number or very close to a whole number. Multiply all the subscripts in the empirical formula by the whole number found in step 2. The result is the molecular formula. How do you determine the number of double bonds? Multiply it by 2 and add 2. Calculate the difference between that number and the actual number of H atoms in the formula.

How do you name alkenes? However, these compounds are very rare, unlike benzene. We will learn more about the reasons for benzen's high stability when we studey aromaticity in later chapters.

However, you can also determine the molecular formula and solve for the degrees of unsaturation by using the formula. Thus, the formula may give numerous possible structures for a given molecular formula. Steven Farmer Sonoma State University. Saturated and Unsaturated Molecules In the lab, saturation may be thought of as the point when a solution cannot dissolve anymore of a substance added to it. When the DU is 4 or greater, the presence of benzene rings is very likely.

Solution The molecular formula for benzene is C 6 H 6. Exercises Are the following molecules saturated or unsaturated: b. C 10 H 6 N 4 Using the molecules from 1 above, give the degrees of unsaturation for each. Answer 1. References Vollhardt, K. Organic Chemistry 5 th Ed. Both compounds have zero degrees of unsaturation no multiple bonds or rings. If the oxygen atom were inserted in a C-C bond of n-butane, ethers would be formed, both of which, diethyl etherand methyl n-propyl ether, have zero degrees of unsaturation.

Thus, ignore oxygen atoms in a formula when calculating a degree of unsaturation. Since sulfur is also divalent, ignore it as well. To convert a nitrogen containing compound to a hydrocarbon, remove the N from the formula and replace it with one C and one H.

Since halogens have an odd valence, they can be considered along with nitrogen. Compound C 5 H 4 NCl has an even number of hydrogens. How do you handle formulas with all five atoms? First we see that there are 2 halogen atoms and 2 nitrogens. The number of hydrogens is even. Substituting 2 hydrogens for the halogens the formula becomes C 8 H 12 N 2.

Finally, The addition of 2 carbons and 2 hydrogens in place of the 2 nitrogens gives C 10 H The most saturated C 10 hydrocarbon is C 10 H The following compounds all fit the data. Draw some more structures with this formula. Based upon the presence of 2 chlorines and 1 nitrogen, the odd number of hydrogen atoms is also odd. So far; so good. This structure is more saturated than C 5 H The formula is incorrect. Formula Derivation:. Although using a formula is an acceptable solution for determining the degree of unsaturation, you should know how it is derived to make it your own.