Topic 6
Organic
Chemistry I
Topic 6 introduces organic chemistry, including formulae, nomenclature, isomerism, alkanes, alkenes, halogenoalkanes and alcohols. Students learn mechanisms, functional group reactions, polymerisation and key practical techniques used in organic synthesis.
Revision Notes
5 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Hydrocarbons, formulae, homologous series, functional groups, IUPAC names, reaction types and isomerism.
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Alkanes
Saturated hydrocarbons, crude oil, combustion, pollutants, alternative fuels and radical substitution.
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Alkenes
Unsaturated hydrocarbons, π bonds, electrophilic addition, bromine water, polymers and sustainability.
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Halogenoalkanes
Reaction types and mechanisms, naming and classifying, nucleophilic substitution, elimination and rates of hydrolysis.
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Alcohols
Naming and classifying alcohols, oxidation with acidified dichromate(VI), substitution and elimination, preparing and purifying liquids.
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Specification
Every specification point in this topic, in the exam board's own words. Rate how confident you are with each one.
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6
- A.4
be able 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 know prefixes for compounds up to C10
Revise - A.4 a
be able to name compounds relevant to this specification using the rules of IUPAC nomenclature
Revise - A.7 b
understand stereoisomerism as illustrated by cis-trans isomerism where two substituent groups are the same
Revise - B.9 d
know that cycloalkanes are saturated
- B.10 e
know reforming is processing straight-chain hydrocarbons into cyclic hydrocarbons for efficient combustion
Revise - B.14 a
understand the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel compared with non-renewable fossil fuels
Revise - B.14 b
understand the use of alcohols from renewable plant sources as alternative fuels compared with non-renewable fossil fuels
Revise - B.15i
know that a radical: is a species with an unpaired electron and is represented in mechanisms by a single dot
Revise - B.15ii
know that a radical: is formed by homolytic fission of a covalent bond and results in the formation of radicals
Revise - B.16ii
understand the reactions of alkanes with: halogens, in terms of the mechanism of radical substitution through initiation, propagation and termination steps The use of curly half-arrows is not expected in this mechanism.
Revise - B.17 a
understand limitations of radical substitution in synthesis due to further substitution reactions
Revise - B.17 b
understand limitations of radical substitution in synthesis due to formation of a mixture of products
Revise - C.19 b
know that cycloalkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons
- C.22i
understand the addition reactions of alkenes with: hydrogen, in the presence of a nickel catalyst, to form an alkane Knowledge of the application of this reaction to the manufacture of margarine by catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated vegetable oils is expected.
Revise - C.22ii
understand the addition reactions of alkenes with: halogens to produce dihalogenoalkanes
Revise - C.22iii
understand the addition reactions of alkenes with: hydrogen halides to produce halogenoalkanes
Revise - C.22iv
understand the addition reactions of alkenes with: steam, in the presence of an acid catalyst, to produce alcohols
Revise - C.22v
understand the addition reactions of alkenes with: potassium manganate(VII), in acid conditions, to oxidise the double bond and produce a diol
Revise - C.23
understand that heterolytic bond fission of a covalent bond results in the formation of ions
Revise - C.24i
understand the mechanism of the electrophilic addition reactions between alkenes and: halogens
Revise - C.24ii
understand the mechanism of the electrophilic addition reactions between alkenes and: hydrogen halides, including addition to unsymmetrical alkenes
Revise - C.24iii
understand the mechanism of the electrophilic addition reactions between alkenes and: other given binary compounds Use of the curly arrow notation is expected − curly arrows should start from either a bond or from a lone pair of electrons. Knowledge of the relative stability of primary, secondary and tertiary carbocation intermediates is expected.
Revise - C.24iii b
know the relative stability of primary secondary and tertiary carbocation intermediates
Revise - C.27ii
know that waste polymers can be separated into specific types of polymer for: incineration to release energy
Revise - C.27iii
know that waste polymers can be separated into specific types of polymer for: use as a feedstock for cracking
Revise - C.28 a
understand that chemists can contribute to more sustainable use of materials in terms of energy use over the life cycle of polymer products
Revise - C.28 b
understand that chemists can contribute to more sustainable use of materials in terms of resource use over the life cycle of polymer products
Revise - C.29i
understand how chemists limit the problems caused by polymer disposal by: developing biodegradable polymers
Revise - C.29ii
understand how chemists limit the problems caused by polymer disposal by: removing toxic waste gases caused by incineration of plastics
Revise - D.32i
understand the reactions of halogenoalkanes with: aqueous potassium hydroxide to produce alcohols (where the hydroxide ion acts as a nucleophile)
Revise - D.32ii
understand the reactions of halogenoalkanes with: aqueous silver nitrate in ethanol (where water acts as a nucleophile)
Revise - D.32iii
understand the reactions of halogenoalkanes with: potassium cyanide to produce nitriles (where the cyanide ion acts as a nucleophile) Students should know this as an example of increasing the length of the carbon chain.
Revise - D.32iv
understand the reactions of halogenoalkanes with: ammonia to produce primary amines (where the ammonia molecule acts as a nucleophile)
Revise - D.32v
understand the reactions of halogenoalkanes with: ethanolic potassium hydroxide to produce alkenes (where the hydroxide ion acts as a base)
Revise - D.33i
understand that experimental observations and data can be used to compare the relative rates of hydrolysis of: primary, secondary and tertiary halogenoalkanes
Revise - D.33ii
understand that experimental observations and data can be used to compare the relative rates of hydrolysis of: chloro-, bromo-, and iodoalkanes using aqueous silver nitrate in ethanol
Revise - D.36i
understand the mechanisms of the nucleophilic substitution reactions between primary halogenoalkanes and: aqueous potassium hydroxide
Revise - D.36ii
understand the mechanisms of the nucleophilic substitution reactions between primary halogenoalkanes and: ammonia
Revise - E.38ii b
understand reactions of alcohols with 50% concentrated sulfuric acid and potassium bromide to produce bromoalkanes
Revise - E.38ii c
understand reactions of alcohols with red phosphorus and iodine to produce iodoalkanes
Revise - E.38iii a
understand oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes using potassium dichromate(VI) in dilute sulfuric acid
Revise - E.38iii b
understand oxidation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids using potassium dichromate(VI) in dilute sulfuric acid
Revise - E.38iii c
understand oxidation of secondary alcohols to ketones using potassium dichromate(VI) in dilute sulfuric acid
Revise - E.38iv
understand the reactions of alcohols with: concentrated phosphoric acid to form alkenes by elimination Descriptions of the mechanisms of these reactions are not expected.
Revise - E.39i
understand the following techniques used in the preparation and purification of a liquid organic compound: heating under reflux
Revise - E.39ii
understand the following techniques used in the preparation and purification of a liquid organic compound: extraction with a solvent in a separating funnel
Revise - E.39iii
understand the following techniques used in the preparation and purification of a liquid organic compound: distillation
Revise - E.39iv
understand the following techniques used in the preparation and purification of a liquid organic compound: drying with an anhydrous salt
Revise - E.39v
understand the following techniques used in the preparation and purification of a liquid organic compound: boiling temperature determination
Revise
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