Topic 29
Introduction to
A Level Organic
Chemistry
These pages cover section 29.4 of Topic 29, isomerism: optical: enantiomers and their identical properties apart from the rotation of plane polarised light and biological activity, the terms optically active and racemic mixture, and the relevance of chirality to the synthesis of drug molecules. The other sections of Topic 29 (formulas, nomenclature and the bonding in benzene) are covered in Topic 13 and in Topic 30.
Revision Notes
2 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.
Optical Isomerism and Chirality
Optical isomerism and chirality: chiral centres, asymmetric carbon atoms, enantiomers as non-superimposable mirror images and drawing 3D diagrams.
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Optical Activity and Racemic Mixtures
Optical activity: plane-polarised light, enantiomers, racemic mixtures and chirality in drug synthesis.
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Summary map
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Chirality Map
Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 29 Optical isomerism
The whole section on one A4 page: chiral centres, how enantiomers compare, the polarimeter, racemic mixtures, chiral drugs and making one isomer only.
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Match reagents to products, with your board's reagents and conditions.
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Specification
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Self-assessment · 19 points
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29.1.1
- 29.1.1
understand that the compounds in the table on page 47 contain a functional group which dictates their physical and chemical properties
29.1.2
- a
interpret and use the general formulas of the classes of compound stated in the table on page 47
- b
interpret and use the structural formulas of the classes of compound stated in the table on page 47
- c
interpret and use the displayed formulas of the classes of compound stated in the table on page 47
- d
interpret and use the skeletal formulas of the classes of compound stated in the table on page 47
29.1.3
- 29.1.3
understand and use systematic nomenclature of simple aliphatic organic molecules (including cyclic compounds containing a single ring of up to six carbon atoms) with functional groups detailed in the table on page 47, up to six carbon atoms (six plus six for esters and amides, straight chains only for esters and nitriles)
29.1.4
- 29.1.4
understand and use systematic nomenclature of simple aromatic molecules with one benzene ring and one or more simple substituents, for example 3-nitrobenzoic acid or 2,4,6-tribromophenol
Revise
29.2.1
- a
understand and use the terminology electrophilic substitution associated with types of organic mechanisms
- b
understand and use the terminology addition–elimination associated with types of organic mechanisms
29.3.1
29.4.1
- a
understand that enantiomers have identical physical and chemical properties apart from their ability to rotate plane polarised light
Revise
29.4.2
29.4.3
- 29.4.3
describe the effect on plane polarised light of the two optical isomers of a single substance
Revise
29.4.4
- a
explain the relevance of chirality to the synthetic preparation of drug molecules including the potential different biological activity of the two enantiomers
Revise - b
explain the relevance of chirality to the synthetic preparation of drug molecules including the need to separate a racemic mixture into two pure enantiomers
Revise - c
explain the relevance of chirality to the synthetic preparation of drug molecules including the use of chiral catalysts to produce a single pure optical isomer
Revise
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