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ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

demonstrate knowledge and understanding that carbon can form four covalent bonds and there is a large number of carbon compounds, the study of which is simplified by grouping the compounds into homologous series.

define a homologous series as a family of organic molecules that have the same general formula, show similar chemical properties, show a gradation in their
physical properties and differ by a CH2 group;

3.    recall that a hydrocarbon is a compound/molecule consisting of hydrogen and carbon only;

4.    recall the general formula of the alkanes and the molecular formula, structural formula and state at room temperature and pressure of methane, ethane, propane and butane;

5.    recall that crude oil is a finite resource and is the main source of hydrocarbons and a feedstock for the petrochemical industry

6.    describe and explain the separation of crude oil by fractional distillation;

7 describe the fractions as largely a mixture of compounds of formula CnH2n+2/ which are members of the alkane homologous series, and recall the names and

uses of the following fractions

•    refinery gases used for bottled gases;

•    petrol used as a fuel for cars;

•    naphtha used to manufacture chemicals and plastics;

•    kerosene as a fuel for aircraft;

•    diesel as a fuel for cars and trains;

•    fuel oils used as fuel for ships;

•    bitumen used to surface roads and roofs;

explain that cracking involves the breakdown of larger saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) into smaller more useful ones, some of which are unsaturated (alkenes); and
describe the complete combustion of alkanes to produce carbon dioxide and water, including observations and tests to identify the products.

10.    describe the incomplete combustion of alkanes to produce carbon monoxide and water and sometimes carbon (soot - equations for the production of soot are not required);
11.    demonstrate knowledge and understanding that carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that combines with haemoglobin in the blood, reducing its capacity to carry oxygen;
12.    recall the general formula of the alkenes and the molecular formula, structural formula and state at room temperature and pressure of ethene, propene, but-1-ene and but-2-ene;
13.    describe the complete and incomplete combustion of alkenes;

14.    demonstrate knowledge and understanding thata functional group is a reactive group in a molecule, recognise the functional groups of alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids, and recognise that alkanes do not have a functional group and so are less reactive;

15.    recall and describe the addition reaction across a C=C double covalent bond, including the reaction of ethene with bromine, hydrogen and steam (name of the bromo product is not required);

16.    determine the presence of a C=C using bromine water;

17.    describe how monomers, for example ethene or chloroethene (vinyl chloride), can join together to form very long chain molecules called polymers and recall that the process is known as addition polymerisation;

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18.    write equations for the polymerisation of ethene and chloroethene; and


19.    deduce the structure of an addition polymer from a simple alkene monomer and vice versa.

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20.    demonstrate knowledge and understanding that addition polymers are non-biodegradable and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of their disposal by landfill and incineration;

21.    recall the general formula of the alcohols and the molecular formula, structural formula and state at room temperature and pressure of methanol, ethanol, propan-l-ol and propan-2-ol;

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22.    describe the complete and incomplete combustion of alcohols;

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23.    describe the preparation of ethanol from sugars by fermentation (equation for fermentation of sugars is not required), including the conditions required;

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24.    recall the oxidation of alcohols when exposed to air and by the reaction with acidified potassium dichromate solution (equations are not required) and demonstrate understanding that methanol, ethanol and propan-1-ol are oxidised to the corresponding carboxylic acid (students should know that propan-2-ol can be oxidised but do not need to know the name or structure of the product);

25.    recall the molecular formula, structural formula, state at room temperature and pressure of the carboxylic acids: methanoic acid, ethanoic acid, propanoic acid and butanoic acid;

26.    demonstrate knowledge that carboxylic acids are weak acids as they are only partially ionised in solution; 

27.    investigate experimentally the reactions of carboxylic acids with carbonates, hydroxides and metals, test any gases produced and write balanced symbol equations for these reactions.

28.    demonstrate knowledge that the combustion of fuels is a major source of atmospheric pollution due to:
•    combustion of hydrocarbons producing carbon dioxide, which leads to the greenhouse effect causing sea level rises, flooding and climate change;
•    incomplete combustion producing carbon monoxide (toxic) and soot (carbon particles), which cause lung damage; and
•    presence of sulfur impurities in fuels, which leads to acid rain damaging buildings, destroying vegetation and killing fish;

29.    identify alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids using chemical tests 

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