QuestionQuestionConceptConceptDocumentDocument

4 Organic chemistry

Start with Concept to understand a topic, then use Question Bank to check what you know.

8 topics · 50 learning objectives

Your progress

Sign in to see your mastery and mistakes.

  1. (a) Introduction

    1. 4.1Hydrocarbons

      Know that a hydrocarbon is a compound of hydrogen and carbon only

    2. 4.2Representing organic molecules

      Understand how to represent organic molecules using empirical formulae, molecular formulae, general formulae, structural formulae and displayed formulae

    3. 4.3Homologous series, functional groups and isomers

      Know what is meant by the terms homologous series, functional group and isomerism

    4. 4.4IUPAC nomenclature

      Understand how to name compounds relevant to this specification using the rules of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature students will be expected to name compounds containing up to six carbon atoms

    5. 4.5Structures from molecular formulae

      Understand how to write the possible structural and displayed formulae of an organic molecule given its molecular formula

    6. 4.6Types of organic reaction

      Understand how to classify reactions of organic compounds as substitution, addition and combustion knowledge of reaction mechanisms is not required

  2. (b) Crude oil

    1. 4.7Crude oil as a hydrocarbon mixture

      Know that crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons

    2. 4.8Fractional distillation of crude oil

      Describe how the industrial process of fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions

    3. 4.9Crude-oil fractions and uses

      Know the names and uses of the main fractions obtained from crude oil: refinery gases, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil and bitumen

    4. 4.10Trends in fraction properties

      Know the trend in colour, boiling point and viscosity of the main fractions

    5. 4.11Fuels

      Know that a fuel is a substance that, when burned, releases heat energy

    6. 4.12Hydrocarbon combustion products

      Know the possible products of complete and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons with oxygen in the air

    7. 4.13Carbon monoxide toxicity

      Understand why carbon monoxide is poisonous, in terms of its effect on the capacity of blood to transport oxygen references to haemoglobin are not required

    8. 4.14Nitrogen oxides in engines

      Know that, in car engines, the temperature reached is high enough to allow nitrogen and oxygen from air to react, forming oxides of nitrogen

    9. 4.15Sulfur impurities and sulfur dioxide

      Explain how the combustion of some impurities in hydrocarbon fuels results in the formation of sulfur dioxide

    10. 4.16Acid rain

      Understand how sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen contribute to acid rain

    11. 4.17Catalytic cracking

      Describe how long-chain alkanes are converted to alkenes and shorter-chain alkanes by catalytic cracking (using silica or alumina as the catalyst and a temperature in the range of 600-700 ºC)

    12. 4.18Why cracking is necessary

      Explain why cracking is necessary, in terms of the balance between supply and demand for different fractions

  3. (c) Alkanes

    1. 4.19Alkane general formula

      Know the general formula for alkanes

    2. 4.20Saturated hydrocarbons

      Explain why alkanes are classified as saturated hydrocarbons

    3. 4.21Alkane structures and isomers

      Understand how to draw the structural and displayed formulae for alkanes with up to five carbon atoms in the molecule, and to name the unbranched-chain isomers

    4. 4.22Alkane substitution with halogens

      Describe the reactions of alkanes with halogens in the presence of ultraviolet radiation, limited to mono-substitution knowledge of reaction mechanisms is not required

  4. (d) Alkenes

    1. 4.23Alkene functional group

      Know that alkenes contain the functional group >C=C<

    2. 4.24Alkene general formula

      Know the general formula for alkenes

    3. 4.25Unsaturated hydrocarbons

      Explain why alkenes are classified as unsaturated hydrocarbons

    4. 4.26Alkene structures and isomers

      Understand how to draw the structural and displayed formulae for alkenes with up to four carbon atoms in the molecule, and name the unbranched-chain isomers knowledge of cis/trans or E/Z notation is not required

    5. 4.27Alkene addition with bromine

      Describe the reactions of alkenes with bromine to produce dibromoalkanes

    6. 4.28Bromine-water test

      Describe how bromine water can be used to distinguish between an alkane and an alkene

  5. (e) Alcohols

    1. 4.29CAlcohol functional group

      Know that alcohols contain the functional group -OH

    2. 4.30CAlcohol structures and names

      Understand how to draw structural and displayed formulae for methanol, ethanol, propanol (propan-1-ol only) and butanol (butan-1-ol only), and name each compound the names propanol and butanol are acceptable

    3. 4.31COxidation of ethanol

      Know that ethanol can be oxidised by: • burning in air or oxygen (complete combustion) • reaction with oxygen in the air to form ethanoic acid (microbial oxidation) • heating with potassium dichromate(VI) in dilute sulfuric acid to form ethanoic acid

    4. 4.32CManufacture of ethanol

      Know that ethanol can be manufactured by: • reacting ethene with steam in the presence of a phosphoric acid catalyst at a temperature of about 300 ºC and a pressure of about 60-70 atm • the fermentation of glucose, in the absence of air, at an optimum temperature of about 30 ºC and using the enzymes in yeast

    5. 4.33CFermentation conditions

      Understand the reasons for fermentation, in the absence of air, and at an optimum temperature

  6. (f) Carboxylic acids

    1. 4.34CCarboxylic acid functional group

      Know that carboxylic acids contain the –COOH functional group.

    2. 4.35CCarboxylic acid structures and names

      Understand how to draw structural and displayed formulae for unbranched-chain carboxylic acids with up to four carbon atoms in the molecule, and name each compound

    3. 4.36CCarboxylic acid reactions

      Describe the reactions of aqueous solutions of carboxylic acids with metals and metal carbonates

    4. 4.37CVinegar and ethanoic acid

      Know that vinegar is an aqueous solution containing ethanoic acid

  7. (g) Esters

    1. 4.38CEster functional group

      Know that esters contain the –COO– functional group.

    2. 4.39CFormation of ethyl ethanoate

      Know that ethyl ethanoate is the ester produced when ethanol and ethanoic acid react in the presence of an acid catalyst

    3. 4.40CEthyl ethanoate structures

      Understand how to write the structural and displayed formulae of ethyl ethanoate

    4. 4.41CEster structures and names

      Understand how to write the structural and displayed formulae of an ester, given the name or formula of the alcohol and carboxylic acid from which it is formed and vice versa

    5. 4.42CProperties and uses of esters

      Know that esters are volatile compounds with distinctive smells and are used as food flavourings and in perfumes

    6. 4.43CEster preparation practical

      Practical: prepare a sample of an ester such as ethyl ethanoate

  8. (h) Synthetic polymers

    1. 4.44Addition polymer formation

      Know that an addition polymer is formed by joining up many small molecules called monomers

    2. 4.45Addition polymer repeat units

      Understand how to draw the repeat unit of an addition polymer, including poly(ethene), poly(propene), poly(chloroethene) and (poly)tetrafluoroethene

    3. 4.46Monomers and repeat units

      Understand how to deduce the structure of a monomer from the repeat unit of an addition polymer and vice versa

    4. 4.47Addition polymer disposal

      Explain problems in the disposal of addition polymers, including: • their inertness and inability to biodegrade • the production of toxic gases when they are burned.

    5. 4.48CPolyester formation

      Know that condensation polymerisation, in which a dicarboxylic acid reacts with a diol, produces a polyester and water

    6. 4.49CPolyester formulae

      Write the structural and displayed formula of a polyester repeat unit from its monomers, including ethanedioic acid reacting with ethanediol.

    7. 4.50CBiodegradable polyesters

      Know that some polyesters, known as biopolyesters, are biodegradable