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
7 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
Edexcel IAL
Pearson International
Revision Notes
Safety first
Hazard
& Risk
& Risk
scale, precautions and safer methods
1
Available
Hazard & Risk
The difference between hazard and risk, why risk assessment matters, and how to reduce risk in organic practical work.
Start revisingFunctional groups
Organic
Families
Families
2
Available
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Homologous series, functional groups, organic reaction classes, bond fission, free radicals and electrophiles.
Start revisingSame formula
Different
Structures
Structures
structural isomers of organic molecules
3
Available
Isomerism
Structural isomerism, molecular formulae, displayed formulae and drawing different organic structures correctly.
Start revisingCrude oil
Fractions
& Cracking
& Cracking
distillation, cracking and reforming
4
Available
Alkanes from Crude Oil
How alkanes are obtained from crude oil through fractional distillation, cracking and reforming reactions.
Start revisingCombustion
fuels, pollutants and acidic oxides
5
Available
Alkanes as Fuel
Combustion equations, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, particulates and unburned hydrocarbons.
Start revisingCarbon
Neutrality
Neutrality
petrol, bioethanol and hydrogen
6
Available
Alternative Fuel
Sustainability, reducing emissions, carbon neutrality and comparisons between petrol, bioethanol and hydrogen.
Start revisingFree Radical
Substitution
Substitution
initiation, propagation and termination
7
Available
Reactions of Alkanes
Alkane reactions with oxygen and halogens, including the mechanism of free radical substitution.
Start revisingSpecification Coverage
Topic 4 Organic Chemistry & Alkanes – Edexcel International A Level Chemistry
The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 4.
4A: Introduction
4.1
understand the difference between hazard and risk
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
4.3
be able to suggest ways in which risks can be reduced and reactions carried out safely, for example:
i
working on a smaller scale
ii
taking precautions specific to the hazard
iii
using an alternative method that involves less hazardous substances
4.4
understand the concepts of homologous series and functional group
4.5
be able to apply the rules of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature to:
i
name compounds relevant to this specification
ii
draw these compounds, as they are encountered in the specification, using structural, displayed and skeletal formulae
Students will be expected to know prefixes for compounds up to C10.
4.6
be able to classify reactions as addition, substitution, oxidation, reduction or polymerisation
4.7
understand that bond breaking can be:
i
homolytic, to produce free radicals
ii
heterolytic, to produce ions
4.8
know definitions of the terms free radical and electrophile
4B: Alkanes
4.9
know the general formula of alkanes and cycloalkanes, and understand that they are hydrocarbons containing carbon and hydrogen only which are saturated and contain single bonds only
4.10
understand the term structural isomerism and be able to draw the structural isomers of organic molecules, given their molecular formula
4.11
be able to draw and name the structural isomers of alkanes and cycloalkanes with up to six carbon atoms
4.12
know that alkanes are used as fuels and obtained from the fractional distillation, cracking and reforming of crude oil, and be able to write equations for these reactions
4.13
know that pollutants, including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, carbon particulates and unburned hydrocarbons, are emitted during the combustion of alkane fuels
4.14
understand the problems arising from pollutants from the combustion of alkane fuels, limited to the toxicity of carbon monoxide and why it is toxic, and the acidity of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur
4.15
be able to discuss the reasons for developing alternative fuels in terms of sustainability and reducing emissions, including the emission of CO2 and its relationship to climate change
4.16
be able to apply the concept of carbon neutrality to different fuels, such as petrol, bioethanol and hydrogen
4.17
understand the reactions of alkanes with:
i
oxygen in the air, combustion
ii
halogens
4.18
understand the mechanism of the free radical substitution reaction between an alkane and a halogen:
i
using free radicals, which are species with an unpaired electron, represented by a single dot
ii
showing the initiation step of the mechanism, with curly half-arrows for free radical formation
iii
showing the propagation and termination steps of the mechanism
iv
having limited use in synthesis because of further substitution reactions
Further suggested practical: Cracking alkanes by thermal decomposition, including liquid paraffin using aluminium oxide as a catalyst.
Specification Coverage
Topic 4 Organic Chemistry & Alkanes – Edexcel International A Level Chemistry
The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 4.
4A: Introduction
4.1
understand the difference between hazard and risk
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
4.3
be able to suggest ways in which risks can be reduced and reactions carried out safely, for example:
i
working on a smaller scale
ii
taking precautions specific to the hazard
iii
using an alternative method that involves less hazardous substances
4.4
understand the concepts of homologous series and functional group
4.5
be able to apply IUPAC nomenclature to:
i
name compounds relevant to this specification
ii
draw these compounds using structural, displayed and skeletal formulae
Students will be expected to know prefixes for compounds up to C10.
4.6
be able to classify reactions as addition, substitution, oxidation, reduction or polymerisation
4.7
understand that bond breaking can be:
i
homolytic, to produce free radicals
ii
heterolytic, to produce ions
4.8
know definitions of the terms free radical and electrophile
4B: Alkanes
4.9
know the general formula of alkanes and cycloalkanes, and understand that they are saturated hydrocarbons containing single bonds only
4.10
understand structural isomerism and be able to draw structural isomers from a molecular formula
4.11
be able to draw and name structural isomers of alkanes and cycloalkanes with up to six carbon atoms
4.12
know that alkanes are used as fuels and obtained from fractional distillation, cracking and reforming of crude oil
4.13
know that pollutants are emitted during combustion of alkane fuels, including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, carbon particulates and unburned hydrocarbons
4.14
understand problems caused by alkane combustion pollutants, including carbon monoxide toxicity and the acidity of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur
4.15
be able to discuss reasons for developing alternative fuels in terms of sustainability, reducing emissions, CO2 and climate change
4.16
be able to apply carbon neutrality to fuels such as petrol, bioethanol and hydrogen
4.17
understand the reactions of alkanes with:
i
oxygen in the air, combustion
ii
halogens
4.18
understand free radical substitution between an alkane and a halogen:
i
using free radicals represented by a single dot
ii
showing initiation with curly half-arrows
iii
showing propagation and termination steps
iv
recognising limited synthetic use because of further substitution
Further suggested practical: Cracking alkanes by thermal decomposition using aluminium oxide as a catalyst.