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Edexcel International A Level Chemistry

Topic 4
Organic Chemistry
& Alkanes

Topic 4 introduces the foundations of organic chemistry before applying them to alkanes. This topic covers hazard and risk, functional groups, homologous series, IUPAC naming, structural isomerism, crude oil, alkane combustion, alternative fuels and free radical substitution.

Exam Unit
Unit 1
WCH11/01 – IAS
Specification Points
4.1 – 4.18
18 points covered
Sub-topics
2 lessons
7 revision pages
Exam Board
Edexcel IAL
Pearson International

Revision Notes

2 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.

A carbon chain with a functional group
1

Topic 4A Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Hazard and risk in organic practical work, homologous series and functional groups, IUPAC naming, the types of organic reaction, and structural isomerism.

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A tetrahedral alkane molecule and a gas flame
2

Topic 4B Alkanes

Alkanes from crude oil by fractional distillation, cracking and reforming; alkanes as fuels and their pollutants; alternative fuels; and free radical substitution with halogens.

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Summary Map

Download, print and revise the reactions of this topic at a glance.

Summary map

Download, print and revise the reactions of this topic at a glance.

Illustration of a summary map: compounds joined by reaction arrows
Summary map · PDF

Alkanes Map

Edexcel International A Level Chemistry · Unit 1 · Topic 4

Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.

Download the map5 reactions · A4 portrait · print ready

© 2026 Online Learning System. For personal study: printing is allowed; editing, copying and redistribution are not.

Virtual Lessons

Recorded video lessons that teach the topic step by step.

Illustration of a video lesson playing on a screenWith the course

Virtual Lessons

Taught step by step in 2 recorded video lessons, to watch at your own pace.

Topic 4A Introduction to Organic Chemistry taught by a specialist chemistry teacher, in 2 recorded video lessons that follow the specification.

  • Learn it before you revise itEach lesson explains the chemistry step by step, with the diagrams, mechanisms and worked examples the exam expects.
  • At your own pacePause, rewind and rewatch any part. Each lesson opens where you stopped.
  • Your progress is keptA lesson is ticked off once you have watched most of it, here and in your course on Moodle.

MCQ Bank

Multiple-choice papers on this topic, marked the moment you submit. MCQ (A) is free.

Illustration of a multiple-choice paper with one answer tickedMCQ (A) free

Test yourself: 4 MCQ papers

Exam-style multiple-choice papers, marked the moment you submit with every answer explained. MCQ (A) is free.

4 exam-style multiple-choice papers, MCQ (A) to (D): 88 questions on Topic 4A Introduction to Organic Chemistry, written the way the exam asks them.

  • Marked the moment you submitYour score straight away, with every answer explained, right or wrong.
  • Revise what you missedEach explanation links to the revision notes for that point.
  • MCQ (A) is freeTry the first paper now. MCQ (B) to (D) come with the course.
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Open this topic in the MCQ Bank

SAQ Bank

Written, drawn and worked exam practice on this topic, marked by a specialist chemistry teacher.

Illustration of a written exam paper with a drawn structure and a penWith the course

Written and drawn answers: 3 papers

Draw, write and calculate the way the exam asks, then a specialist chemistry teacher marks your work.

3 exam papers, (A) to (C): 38 questions on Topic 4A Introduction to Organic Chemistry with no multiple choice. You write explanations, work out calculations and draw answers: structures, mechanisms and diagrams.

  • Answer the way the exam asksThe real paper wants written, worked and drawn answers, so that is how you practise.
  • Marked by a teacher, assisted by KASPA specialist chemistry teacher marks every answer against the mark scheme, with feedback on what to fix.
  • One paper marked each weekYour marked paper comes back here with every marking point shown.
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Revision Game

Match reagents to products, free, with your board's reagents and conditions.

Illustration of memory game cards, two turned face up as a matching pairFree

Revision Game: Alkanes

Turn the cards over two at a time: match reagents to what they make, and find how each product is made.

A free memory game on the reactions in this topic, with your board's reagents, conditions and spec points.

  • Two ways to playMatch each set of reagents to what the reaction makes, or see a product and find the reactant and reagents that make it.
  • Drawn the way the exam draws themEvery structure is drawn in ChemDraw, with the reagents and conditions your exam board asks for.
  • It countsRounds earn XP and keep your streak going, and every correct match shows in your KASP analytics, apart from your marks.

Study Cards

Pick a deck, then turn each card to check what you remember.

Specification

Every specification point in this topic, in the exam board's own words. Rate how confident you are with each one.

Self-assessment · 64 points

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4.1

  1. 4.1

    understand the difference between hazard and risk

    Revise

4.2

  1. 4.2

    understand the hazards associated with organic compounds and why it is necessary to carry out risk assessments when dealing with potentially hazardous materials

    Revise
  2. a

    understand the hazards associated with organic compounds

    Revise
  3. b

    understand why it is necessary to carry out risk assessments when dealing with potentially hazardous materials

    Revise

4.3

  1. i

    be able to suggest reducing risk by working on a smaller scale

    Revise
  2. ii

    be able to suggest reducing risk by taking precautions specific to the hazard

    Revise
  3. iii

    be able to suggest reducing risk by using an alternative method that involves less hazardous substances

    Revise

4.4

  1. a

    understand the concept of homologous series

    Revise
  2. b

    understand the concept of functional group

    Revise

4.5

  1. i

    be able to apply IUPAC nomenclature rules to name compounds relevant to this specification

    Revise
  2. ii a

    be able to apply IUPAC nomenclature rules to draw structural formulae of compounds encountered in the specification

    Revise
  3. ii b

    be able to apply IUPAC nomenclature rules to draw displayed formulae of compounds encountered in the specification

    Revise
  4. ii c

    be able to apply IUPAC nomenclature rules to draw skeletal formulae of compounds encountered in the specification

    Revise
  5. ii d

    know prefixes for compounds up to C10

    Revise

4.6

  1. a

    be able to classify reactions as addition

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to classify reactions as substitution

    Revise
  3. c

    be able to classify reactions as oxidation

    Revise
  4. d

    be able to classify reactions as reduction

    Revise
  5. e

    be able to classify reactions as polymerisation

    Revise

4.7

  1. i

    understand that bond breaking can be: homolytic, to produce free radicals

    Revise
  2. ii

    understand that bond breaking can be: heterolytic, to produce ions

    Revise

4.8

  1. 4.8

    know definitions of the terms ‘free radical’ and ‘electrophile’

    Revise
  2. a

    know the definition of the term 'free radical'

    Revise
  3. b

    know the definition of the term 'electrophile'

    Revise

4.9

  1. a

    know the general formula of alkanes

    Revise
  2. b

    know the general formula of cycloalkanes

  3. c

    understand that alkanes are hydrocarbons

    Revise
  4. d

    understand that cycloalkanes are hydrocarbons

  5. e

    understand that alkanes are saturated

    Revise
  6. f

    understand that cycloalkanes are saturated

    Revise

4.10

  1. a

    understand the term 'structural isomerism'

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to draw structural isomers of organic molecules given their molecular formula

    Revise

4.11

  1. a

    be able to draw structural isomers of alkanes with up to six carbon atoms

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to name structural isomers of alkanes with up to six carbon atoms

    Revise
  3. c

    be able to draw structural isomers of cycloalkanes with up to six carbon atoms

  4. d

    be able to name structural isomers of cycloalkanes with up to six carbon atoms

4.12

  1. a

    know that alkanes are used as fuels

    Revise
  2. b

    know that alkanes are obtained from fractional distillation of crude oil

    Revise
  3. c

    know that alkanes are obtained from cracking of crude oil fractions

    Revise
  4. d

    know that alkanes are obtained from reforming of crude oil fractions

    Revise
  5. e

    be able to write equations for fractional distillation/cracking/reforming reactions where relevant

    Revise

4.13

  1. a

    know that carbon monoxide is emitted during combustion of alkane fuels

    Revise
  2. b

    know that oxides of nitrogen is emitted during combustion of alkane fuels

    Revise
  3. c

    know that oxides of sulfur is emitted during combustion of alkane fuels

    Revise
  4. d

    know that carbon particulates is emitted during combustion of alkane fuels

    Revise
  5. e

    know that unburned hydrocarbons is emitted during combustion of alkane fuels

    Revise

4.14

  1. a

    understand the toxicity problem arising from carbon monoxide produced during combustion of alkane fuels

    Revise
  2. b

    understand why carbon monoxide is toxic

    Revise
  3. c

    understand the acidity problem arising from oxides of nitrogen produced during combustion of alkane fuels

    Revise
  4. d

    understand the acidity problem arising from oxides of sulfur produced during combustion of alkane fuels

    Revise

4.15

  1. a

    be able to discuss reasons for developing alternative fuels in terms of sustainability

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to discuss reasons for developing alternative fuels in terms of reducing emissions

    Revise
  3. c

    be able to discuss reasons for developing alternative fuels in terms of CO2 emissions and climate change

    Revise

4.16

  1. a

    be able to apply the concept of carbon neutrality to petrol

    Revise
  2. b

    be able to apply the concept of carbon neutrality to bioethanol

    Revise
  3. c

    be able to apply the concept of carbon neutrality to hydrogen

4.17

  1. i

    understand the reactions of alkanes with: oxygen in the air (combustion)

    Revise
  2. ii

    understand the reactions of alkanes with: halogens

    Revise

4.18

  1. i

    understand the mechanism of the free radical substitution reaction between an alkane and a halogen: using free radicals, which are species with an unpaired electron, represented by a single dot

    Revise
  2. ii

    understand the mechanism of the free radical substitution reaction between an alkane and a halogen: showing the initiation step of the mechanism, with curly half-arrows for free radical formation

    Revise
  3. iii

    understand the mechanism of the free radical substitution reaction between an alkane and a halogen: showing the propagation and termination steps of the mechanism

    Revise
  4. iii a

    understand the propagation steps of the free radical substitution reaction between an alkane and a halogen

    Revise
  5. iii b

    understand the termination steps of the free radical substitution reaction between an alkane and a halogen

    Revise
  6. iv

    understand the mechanism of the free radical substitution reaction between an alkane and a halogen: having limited use in synthesis because of further substitution reactions

    Revise