Alkenes – Topic 5
The Alkenes Topic 5 Edexcel International A Level Chemistry course provides approximately 12 Hours of Guided Learning. Students work through guided video teaching, auto-marked MCQ practice, teacher-marked short-answer questions, and a specification assignment with a personalised progress report.
SAQ Assessments
244 Marks
Guided Video Teaching
Virtual Lesson
The recorded lesson teaches the key chemistry and the exam technique needed to apply it accurately.
Students pause during exam-practice sections, attempt questions independently, then review the worked explanations and mark scheme approach.
Specialist Marking
Assignment & Progress Report
The 34-mark assignment assesses the full Topic 5 specification, including structure, reactions, mechanisms, polymerisation, and polymer disposal.
After marking, students receive a colour-coded progress report showing secure areas, partial understanding, and specification points requiring further revision.
Instant Feedback
Multiple Choice Question Assessments
Four auto-marked MCQ quizzes provide 41 marks of targeted practice across Topic 5.
Each option includes diagnostic feedback, so students can see why the correct answer is right and why each incorrect option loses marks.
Detailed Written Feedback
Short Answer Question Assessments
Eleven short-answer quizzes provide 244 marks of written exam practice across Topic 5.
Students may attempt all SAQ quizzes. A maximum of two SAQ quizzes can be submitted per week, and each submission is marked by a real chemistry teacher within three working days.
Feedback identifies what was correct, what was missing, and how to improve exam-standard written responses.
Exam Board Alignment
This course covers the following Edexcel International A Level Chemistry specification points:
5.1
know the general formula of alkenes and understand that alkenes and cycloalkenes are hydrocarbons which are unsaturated (have a carbon-carbon double bond which consists of a σ bond and a π bond)
5.2
be able to explain geometric isomerism in terms of restricted rotation around a C=C double bond and the nature of the substituents on the carbon atoms
5.3
understand the E-Z naming system for geometric isomers and why it is necessary to use this when the cis- and trans- naming system breaks down
5.4
be able to describe the reactions of alkenes, limited to:
i
the addition of hydrogen, using a nickel catalyst, to form an alkane
ii
the addition of halogens to produce a di-substituted halogenoalkane
iii
the addition of hydrogen halides to produce mono-substituted halogenoalkanes
iv
the addition of steam, in the presence of an acid catalyst, to produce alcohols
v
oxidation of the double bond by acidified potassium manganate(VII) to produce a diol
5.5
know the qualitative test for a C=C double bond using bromine or bromine water
5.6
be able to describe the mechanism (including diagrams), giving evidence where possible, of:
i
the electrophilic addition of bromine and hydrogen bromide to ethene
ii
the electrophilic addition of hydrogen bromide to propene
Use of the curly arrow notation is expected. The curly arrows should start from either a bond or from a lone pair of electrons. Knowledge of primary, secondary and tertiary carbocation stability is expected.
5.7
be able to describe the addition polymerisation of alkenes and draw the repeat unit given the monomer, and vice versa
5.8
understand how chemists limit the problems caused by polymer disposal by:
i
developing biodegradable polymers
ii
removing toxic waste gases produced by the incineration of polymers
Specification Coverage
Students will be assessed on their ability to:
The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate.
5.1
know the general formula of alkenes and understand that alkenes and cycloalkenes are hydrocarbons which are unsaturated (have a carbon-carbon double bond which consists of a σ bond and a π bond)
5.2
be able to explain geometric isomerism in terms of restricted rotation around a C=C double bond and the nature of the substituents on the carbon atoms
5.3
understand the E-Z naming system for geometric isomers and why it is necessary to use this when the cis- and trans- naming system breaks down
5.4
be able to describe the reactions of alkenes, limited to:
i
the addition of hydrogen, using a nickel catalyst, to form an alkane
ii
the addition of halogens to produce a di-substituted halogenoalkane
iii
the addition of hydrogen halides to produce mono-substituted halogenoalkanes
iv
the addition of steam, in the presence of an acid catalyst, to produce alcohols
v
oxidation of the double bond by acidified potassium manganate(VII) to produce a diol
5.5
know the qualitative test for a C=C double bond using bromine or bromine water
5.6
be able to describe the mechanism (including diagrams), giving evidence where possible. Use of curly arrow notation is expected. Knowledge of primary, secondary and tertiary carbocation stability is expected:
i
the electrophilic addition of hydrogen bromide to propene
ii
the electrophilic addition of bromine to ethene
5.7
be able to describe the addition polymerisation of alkenes and draw the repeat unit given the monomer, and vice versa
5.8
understand how chemists limit the problems caused by polymer disposal by:
i
developing biodegradable polymers
ii
removing toxic waste gases produced by the incineration of polymers
Complete Topic Package
Learn the content, practise exam questions, and identify exactly where marks are being lost.
This course combines guided video teaching, diagnostic MCQs, teacher-marked written assessment, and detailed specification reporting for Edexcel International A Level Chemistry.
Exam-focused learning with clear performance feedback
Fatima (verified owner) –
I failed my first attempt of unit 1 edexcel international chemistry, mainly because i did not understand alkenes topic because our teacher was terrible at organic chemistry. I was a few marks away from passing! im so happy I came across this website, because it allows me to just purchase the topic i need help in! the study notes was amazing, you are tested with questions, and then the video with the chemistry specialist is absolutely shockingly amazing, he goes through the topic in detail and goes through exam questions step by step, with thought processes on how to approach specific exam questions and what the examiner wants! Then there is a quiz (exam questions) that he marks and returns with a report specifying which parts of the specification related to alkenes i need to work on. Then there is a bunch of exam multiple choice questions with instant feedback which was very helpful with short answer written exam questiosn that he also marks with feedback! The amount you get for this price is shocking! it may seem expensive at first, but i was paying approximately half the amount of this course for 1 hour of tuition, and i had 3 hours tuition a week! Highly recommend this course!!!
Khan (verified owner) –
The course taught by the Chemistry Specialist helped improve my confidence in Chemistry and made the subject much clearer to understand. The lessons were very structured, and the recorded videos explain the topics clearly while answering the kinds of questions students often have when learning the material. What I found especially useful was being able to practise using the MCQs, SAQs, and assignments, which helped reinforce the concepts rather than just looking at a mark scheme. The explanations focus on understanding the chemistry behind the questions, which makes it easier to apply the knowledge in exam-style problems. The course also helped increase my overall confidence because everything is organised clearly and the practice questions allow you to test your understanding as you progress. Overall, every lesson felt beneficial and helped build a stronger understanding of the topic.
Jumana (verified owner) –
The course taught by the Chemistry Specialist has really improved my confidence in Chemistry, and I now feel much more confident with the subject than before. What I found most helpful was the way the content explains how and why things work rather than just asking us to memorise facts. The recorded lesson videos break down complex ideas clearly, and the diagrams and visual explanations make the theory much easier to understand. The MCQs, SAQs, and assignments also helped a lot because they allowed me to practise applying the concepts and check my understanding as I worked through the course. Everything feels well structured and clearly prepared, which makes it easier to see the bigger picture of the topic. Using the course resources also helped me become more consistent with revising previous topics and practising exam-style questions. Overall, the course made Chemistry feel much more approachable and less intimidating because difficult concepts are explained step by step and supported with practice questions that help reinforce what you learn.
Latifa (verified owner) –
The Topic 5 Alkenes course helped increase my confidence in Chemistry a lot. The lesson materials and resources were very organised, which made it easy to follow the topic without worrying about where to find things. The recorded explanations and practice questions helped me understand the concepts more clearly, and the course overall helped improve my understanding of the topic significantly.
Linda (verified owner) –
The Topic 5 Alkenes course really helped improve my confidence in Chemistry. The videos explain the topics step by step and make the harder ideas much easier to understand. I also found the diagrams and examples really helpful because they show how the theory actually works instead of just memorising it. Overall it made the topic feel much clearer and easier to revise.
Sara (verified owner) –
I studied the T5 Alkenes course from Abu Dhabi and it really helped improve my confidence with the topic. The Chemistry Specialist explains complex ideas in a very clear and simple way, which made the reactions and mechanisms much easier to understand. The lessons are very well organised and the recorded videos meant I could go back and review anything I didn’t fully understand. The notes and online quizzes were also really helpful for reinforcing the material and preparing for exam-style questions. Overall, the course made the topic much easier to grasp and helped me focus on actually understanding the chemistry rather than just memorising it.