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13. An introduction to AS Level organic chemistry

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  1. AS organic chemistry conventions and functional group reference

    1. Reference—AS organic notation conventions

      • Use the syllabus conventions X for a halogen atom and R/R' for alkyl groups or hydrogen as appropriate.

    2. Reference—AS organic functional groups

      • Recognise and use the AS organic functional groups and representations from the syllabus table. - (a) alkene: C=C bond - (b) halogenoalkane: halogen X; primary, secondary and tertiary halogenoalkanes - (c) alcohol: hydroxyl -OH; primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols - (d) aldehyde: carbonyl -CHO - (e) ketone: carbonyl >C=O - (f) carboxylic acid: carboxyl -COOH - (g) ester: ester -COO- - (h) primary amine: -NH2 - (i) nitrile: -CN

  2. 13.1 Formulas, functional groups and nomenclature

    1. 13.1.1Terms: hydrocarbon as a compound made up of C

      • Define: hydrocarbon as a compound made up of C and H atoms only

    2. 13.1.2Alkanes are simple hydrocarbons with no

      • Understand: alkanes are simple hydrocarbons with no functional group

    3. 13.1.3Compounds in the table on pages 29 and 30

      • Understand: the compounds in the table on pages 29 and 30 contain a functional group which dictates their physical/chemical properties

    4. 13.1.4Interpret/use the general, structural,

      • Interpret/use: the general, structural, displayed and skeletal formulas of the classes of compound stated in the table on pages 29 and 30

    5. 13.1.5Systematic nomenclature of simple aliphatic

      • Understand and use systematic nomenclature of simple aliphatic organic molecules with functional groups detailed in the table on pages 29 and 30, up to six carbon atoms (six plus six for esters, straight chains only for esters and nitriles)

    6. 13.1.6The molecular and/or empirical formula

      • Deduce the molecular and/or empirical formula of a compound, given its structural, displayed or skeletal formula

  3. 13.2 Characteristic organic reactions

    1. 13.2.1Organic reaction terminology

      • Interpret/use: the following terminology associated with types of organic compounds and reactions: - (a) homologous series - (b) saturated and unsaturated - (c) homolytic and heterolytic fission - (d) free radical, initiation, propagation, termination - (e) nucleophile, electrophile, nucleophilic, electrophilic - (f) addition, substitution, elimination, hydrolysis, condensation - (g) oxidation and reduction (in equations for organic redox reactions, the symbol [O] can be used to represent one atom of oxygen - from an oxidising agent and the symbol [H] to represent one atom of hydrogen from a reducing agent)

    2. 13.2.2Terminology associated with types

      • Understand and use the following terminology associated with types of organic mechanisms: - (a) free-radical substitution - (b) electrophilic addition - (c) nucleophilic substitution - (d) nucleophilic addition (in organic reaction mechanisms, the use of curly arrows to represent movement of electron pairs is expected; the arrow should begin at a bond or a lone pair of electrons)

  4. 13.3 Shapes of organic molecules; σ and π bonds

    1. 13.3.1Organic molecules as either straight-chained,

      • Describe organic molecules as either straight-chained, branched or cyclic

    2. 13.3.2Shape of, and bond angles in, molecules

      • Describe/explain: the shape of, and bond angles in, molecules containing sp, sp 2 and sp3 hybridised atoms

    3. 13.3.3Arrangement of σ and π bonds in molecules

      • Describe the arrangement of σ and π bonds in molecules containing sp, sp2 and sp3 hybridised atoms

    4. 13.3.4Terms: planar when describing the arrangement

      • Use terms: planar when describing the arrangement of atoms in organic molecules, e.g. ethene

  5. 13.4 Structural isomerism and stereoisomerism

    1. 13.4.1Structural isomerism and its division

      • Describe structural isomerism and its division into chain, positional and functional group isomerism

    2. 13.4.2Stereoisomerism and its division

      • Describe stereoisomerism and its division into geometrical (cis/trans) and optical isomerism (use of E/Z nomenclature is acceptable but is not required)

    3. 13.4.3Geometrical (cis/trans) isomerism in alkenes,

      • Describe geometrical (cis/trans) isomerism in alkenes, and explain its origin in terms of restricted rotation due to the presence of π bonds

    4. 13.4.4Chiral centres and enantiomers

      • Explain what is meant by a chiral centre and that such a centre gives rise to two optical isomers (enantiomers) (Candidates should appreciate that compounds can contain more than one chiral centre, but knowledge of meso compounds, or nomenclature such as diastereoisomers is not required.)

    5. 13.4.5Chiral centres and geometrical (cis/trans)

      • Identify chiral centres and geometrical (cis/trans) isomerism in a molecule of given structural formula, including cyclic compounds

    6. 13.4.6The possible isomers for an organic molecule

      • Deduce the possible isomers for an organic molecule of known molecular formula