0 0
Home Revision Notes Free Quiz Courses Teachers Blog My Account Cart
Edexcel International A Level Chemistry

Topic 5
Alkenes

Alkenes are the gateway to organic reaction chemistry. This topic covers the structure of the carbon-carbon double bond, geometric isomerism, electrophilic addition mechanisms, polymerisation and polymer disposal – all examined directly in Unit 1 of the Edexcel International A Level Chemistry.

Exam Unit
Unit 1
WCH11/01 – IAS
Specification Points
5.1 – 5.8
8 points covered
Sub-topics
6 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
Edexcel IAL
Pearson International

Revision Notes

Sigma + Pi
C=C
Bonding
1

Alkene Bonding

Unsaturation, C=C double bonds, sigma and pi orbital overlap, and why alkenes react with electrophiles.

Start revising
Restricted rotation
E-Z
Isomers
2

Geometric Isomerism

Restricted rotation around C=C, cis/trans naming, E-Z system and when it is required.

Start revising
Curly arrows
Electrophilic
Addition
3

Electrophilic Addition Mechanism

Curly arrow notation, carbocation stability, and mechanism of bromine and HBr addition.

Start revising
Addition
Reactions
bromine water, HX, steam and oxidation
4

Reactions of Alkenes

Hydrogenation, halogenation, addition of HX, hydration, oxidation and the bromine water test.

Start revising
Monomer to polymer
Repeat
Units
5

Polymerisation Reactions

Addition polymerisation, drawing repeat units, and converting between monomers and polymers.

Start revising
Polymer
Disposal
biodegradable materials and toxic gases
6

Polymer Waste

Biodegradable polymers, polymer disposal, incineration and removing toxic waste gases.

Start revising

Reaction Memory Game

Memory game
Match
& react
Alkenes
Free

Reaction memory game: Alkenes

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

Play free

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.
Play free

Synthesis map

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

Synthesis map · PDF

Alkenes Map

Edexcel International A Level Chemistry · Unit 1 · Topic 5

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

Download the map6 reactions · A4 portrait · print ready

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

Virtual Lessons

Virtual Lessons
Watch
& learn
4 video lessons
With the course

Virtual Lessons

Taught step by step in 4 recorded video lessons, to watch at your own pace.

See what is inside

Topic 5 Alkenes taught by a specialist chemistry teacher, in 4 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.
Get the full course · £9.99See what is inside

Multiple Choice Question Exam Practice

Multiple choice
Test
yourself
MCQ (A) to (E)
MCQ (A) free

Test yourself: 5 MCQ papers

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

Start MCQ (A) free

5 exam-style multiple-choice papers, MCQ (A) to (E): 90 questions on Topic 5 Alkenes, 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 (E) come with the course.
Start MCQ (A) freeGet the full course · £9.99

Exam Practice Questions

Teacher marked
Write
& draw
12 exam papers
With the course

Written and drawn answers: 12 papers

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

See what is inside

12 exam papers, (A) to (L): 170 questions on Topic 5 Alkenes 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.
Get the full course · £9.99See what is inside

Specification

Specification Coverage

Topic 5 Alkenes – Edexcel International A Level Chemistry

The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 5.

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

Topic 5 Alkenes – Edexcel International A Level Chemistry

The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 5.

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. 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