Alcohols
Alcohols carry the –OH group, and everything they do follows from it.
Revision Notes
Work through each part of Edexcel Topic 6 in a structured sequence.
Alcohols: Naming, Classification and Properties
Alcohols: nomenclature, structural, displayed and skeletal formulae, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, hydrogen bonding, boiling temperatures and solubility.
Start revisingOxidation of Alcohols
The oxidation of alcohols: acidified dichromate(VI), aldehydes, carboxylic acids and ketones, distillation versus reflux, [O] equations and tests for aldehydes and acids.
Start revisingSubstitution and Elimination Reactions of Alcohols
Reactions of alcohols: combustion, halogenation with PCl₅, KBr and sulfuric acid, and red phosphorus and iodine, and dehydration to alkenes.
Start revisingPreparing and Purifying Organic Liquids
Preparing and purifying organic liquids: reflux, distillation, separating funnel, drying agents, boiling temperature and percentage yield.
Start revisingReaction Memory Game
& react
Reaction memory game: Alcohols
Turn the cards over two at a time: match reagents to what they make, and find how each product is made.
Play freeA 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.
Synthesis maps
Download, print and revise the reactions of this topic at a glance.
Alcohols Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 6E Alcohols
Every reaction on one A4 page: reagents, conditions and reaction type for each arrow, colour coded, with the key tests.
Alcohols Summary Map
Edexcel A Level Chemistry · Topic 6 Organic Chemistry I · 6E Alcohols
The whole section on one A4 page: names and classes, combustion, halogenoalkanes and alkenes from alcohols, oxidation, and purifying a liquid, with worked examples.
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Alcohols – Edexcel A Level Chemistry
The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 6.
6A: Introduction to organic chemistry
6E: Alcohols
Alcohols – Edexcel A Level Chemistry
The following specification points outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to demonstrate for Topic 6.
6A: Introduction to organic chemistry
6E: Alcohols
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