The colour of compounds Flashcards Preview

Advanced Higher Chemistry: Unit 2 - Organic Chemistry > The colour of compounds > Flashcards

Flashcards in The colour of compounds Deck (7)
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1
Q

What does HOMO stand for?

A

Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital

2
Q

What does LUMO stand for?

A

Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital

3
Q

Why are many organic molecules like ethene colourless?

A

there is a large energy difference between HOMO and LUMO. Therefore, if an electron is to be promoted between these obritals absorption of light in the UV region is required.

4
Q

Why is buta-1,3-diene coloured?

A

It has a smaller energy gap between the orbitals. Therefore, absorption of light in the visible spectrum is required to promote electrons. As a result, it will appear coloured depending on the wavelength of light being absorbed and transmitted.

5
Q

What do coloured organic molecules contain?

A

delocalised electrons within molecular orbitals which extend over several atoms. The more atoms the decolalised molecular orbital spans, the smaller the energy gap between HOMO and LUMO is.

6
Q

What is a chromophore?

A

A group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for its colour.

7
Q

If the chromophore absorbs light of one colour, what will the compound exhibit?

A

the complementary colour