Topic 17
Organic
Chemistry II
Topic 17 covers chirality (17A): optical isomerism, optical activity, racemic mixtures and optical activity as evidence for SN1 and SN2 mechanisms; carbonyl compounds (17B): aldehydes and ketones, their physical properties, oxidation, reduction, nucleophilic addition of HCN, 2,4-DNPH and the iodoform reaction; and carboxylic acids (17C): acids, acyl chlorides, esters and polyesters.
Revision Notes
9 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 optical activity as evidence for reaction mechanisms.
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Aldehydes and Ketones: Structure, Naming and Properties
Aldehydes and ketones: functional groups, nomenclature and formulae, the polar carbonyl group, boiling temperatures and solubility in water.
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Oxidation and Tests for Carbonyl Compounds
Oxidation and tests for aldehydes and ketones: Fehling’s solution, Tollens’ reagent, acidified dichromate(VI), 2,4-DNPH, iodoform test.
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Reduction and Nucleophilic Addition of Carbonyl Compounds
Carbonyl reduction with LiAlH₄ and nucleophilic addition of HCN: equations, the mechanism and the formation of hydroxynitriles.
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Carboxylic Acids: Structure, Properties and Preparation
Carboxylic acids: structure and naming, hydrogen bonding, boiling temperature and solubility, and preparation by oxidation and nitrile hydrolysis.
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Reactions of Carboxylic Acids
Reactions of carboxylic acids: salts, esterification, reduction and the formation of acyl chlorides.
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Acyl Chlorides
Acyl chlorides: structure, reactions with water, alcohols, ammonia and amines.
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Esters, Hydrolysis and Polyesters
Esters: naming, formation, acid and alkaline hydrolysis and condensation polymerisation to polyesters.
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Summary maps
Download, print and revise the reactions of this topic at a glance.
Aldehydes and Ketones Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 17B Carbonyl compounds
Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.
Carboxylic Acids Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 17C Carboxylic acids
Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.
Acyl Chlorides Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 17C Carboxylic acids
Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.
Esters Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 17C Carboxylic acids
Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.
Chirality Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 17A Chirality
The whole section on one A4 page: chiral centres, enantiomers, drawing in 3D, optical activity, racemic mixtures and the evidence for mechanisms.
Carbonyl Compounds Summary Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 17B Carbonyl Compounds
The whole section on one A4 page: naming, forces and solubility, oxidation tests, reduction, adding HCN, 2,4-DNPH and iodoform.
Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives Summary Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 17C Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
The whole section on one A4 page: carboxylic acids, making them, their reactions, acyl chlorides, esters and polyesters.
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17
- A.1
know that optical isomerism is a result of chirality in molecules with a single chiral centre
Revise - A.2 a
understand that optical isomerism results from chiral centres in a molecule with asymmetric carbon atoms
Revise - A.3
know that optical activity is the ability of a single optical isomer to rotate the plane of polarisation of plane-polarised monochromatic light in molecules containing a single chiral centre
Revise - A.5
be able to use data on optical activity of reactants and products as evidence for SN1 and SN2 mechanisms
Revise - B.7i
understand that aldehydes and ketones: do not form intermolecular hydrogen bonds and this affects their physical properties
Revise - B.7ii
understand that aldehydes and ketones: can form hydrogen bonds with water and this affects their solubility
Revise - B.8i
understand the reactions of carbonyl compounds with: Fehling’s or Benedict’s solution, Tollens’ reagent and acidified dichromate(VI) ions In equations, the oxidising agent can be represented as [O]
Revise - B.8ii
understand the reactions of carbonyl compounds with: lithium tetrahydridoaluminate (lithium aluminium hydride) in dry ether In equations, the reducing agent can be represented as [H]
Revise - B.8iii
understand the reactions of carbonyl compounds with: HCN, in the presence of KCN, as a nucleophilic addition reaction, using curly arrows, relevant lone pairs, dipoles and evidence of optical activity to show the mechanism
Revise - B.8iv
understand the reactions of carbonyl compounds with: 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH), as a qualitative test for the presence of a carbonyl group and to identify a carbonyl compound given data for the melting temperatures of derivatives The equation for this reaction is not required
Revise - C.10
understand that hydrogen bonding affects the physical properties of carboxylic acids, in relation to their boiling temperatures and solubility
Revise - C.11
understand that carboxylic acids can be prepared by the oxidation of alcohols or aldehydes, and the hydrolysis of nitriles
Revise - C.12i
understand the reactions of carboxylic acids with: lithium tetrahydridoaluminate (lithium aluminium hydride) in dry ether
Revise - C.12iii
understand the reactions of carboxylic acids with: phosphorus(V) chloride (phosphorus pentachloride)
Revise - C.12iv
understand the reactions of carboxylic acids with: alcohols in the presence of an acid catalyst
Revise
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