amazon.co.ukOrganic Chemistry
A-Level Chemistry revision: Organic Chemistry. Learning objectives, key points, worked examples and practice questions across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA.
📌 Key Points
Key Fact: IUPAC: longest chain, number for lowest locants, prefixes for substituents, suffix for functional group
Key Fact: Mechanisms: curly arrows show electron pair movement; SN1: carbocation intermediate (3 deg > 2 deg > 1 deg ); SN2: concerted backside attack (1 deg favoured)
Key Fact: Markovnikov: H adds to carbon with more H's (forms more stable carbocation)
Key Fact: Oxidation: 1 deg alcohol -> aldehyde -> carboxylic acid; 2 deg -> ketone; 3 deg resistant
Key Fact: Esters: RCOOR'; formed from acid + alcohol (conc H₂SO₄); hydrolysis: acid or base (saponification)
Key Fact: IR: C=O ~1700, O-H ~3300, C-H ~2900 cm⁻¹; MS: M⁺ peak, fragmentation pattern
Key Fact: Retrosynthesis: work backwards from target; identify disconnections; choose reagents
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Name and draw structural formulae for alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, halogenoalkanes, carbonyls, carboxylic acids, esters, amines, amides
- Understand reaction mechanisms: free radical substitution, electrophilic addition, nucleophilic substitution (SN1/SN2), elimination, nucleophilic addition, oxidation/reduction
- Apply Markovnikov's rule and understand carbocation stability
- Distinguish primary, secondary, tertiary alcohols and their oxidation products
- Understand esterification, hydrolysis, and uses of esters
- Use IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for structure determination
- Plan multi-step syntheses using retrosynthetic analysis
💡 Worked Example
Exam-Style Question
Question: Propose a mechanism for the reaction of 2-methylpropene with HBr
Model Answer:
Electrophilic addition. H⁺ adds to less substituted C (Markovnikov) -> more stable 3 deg carbocation (CH₃)₃C⁺. Br⁻ attacks carbocation -> 2-bromo-2-methylpropane. Curly arrows: pi bond to H, H-Br bond to Br
❓ Practice Questions
Model answers are being added progressively - questions marked ✗ don't have one yet. Cross-check with your teacher or the official mark scheme.
Questions:
- Name: CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃✗ answer coming soon
- Mechanism for SN2 hydrolysis of CH₃CH₂Br with OH⁻✗ answer coming soon
- Product of oxidation of CH₃CH₂CH₂OH with acidified K₂Cr₂O₇✗ answer coming soon
- IR peaks for CH₃COOH✗ answer coming soon
- Retrosynthesis of CH₃CH₂COOCH₂CH₃ from simple precursors✗ answer coming soon
🎬 Video Resources
- Organic Chemistry - Overview -- YouTube Search
- Organic Chemistry - Exam Questions -- YouTube Search
📄 Past Papers & Exam Resources
🔗 Further Reading & Resources
- Physics & Maths Tutor - Organic Chemistry -- Free notes, worksheets, and past paper questions by topic
- Dr Frost Maths - Organic Chemistry -- Free resources, slides, and interactive questions
- BBC Bitesize - Organic Chemistry -- BBC Bitesize revision resources
📚 Lesson Plan (50 minutes)
- Starter (5 min): Recall prior knowledge of organic chemistry with quick questions.
- Teaching (15 min): Work through each of the learning objectives, explaining principles step by step.
- Key points review (5 min): Revisit the key points together, confirming understanding.
- Worked example (10 min): Model the example question: Propose a mechanism for the reaction of 2-methylpropene with HBr. Solution: Electrophilic addition. H⁺ adds to less substituted C (Markovnikov) -> more stable 3 deg carbocation (CH₃)₃C⁺. Br⁻ attacks carbocation -> 2-bromo-2-methylpropane. Curly arrows: pi bond to H, H-Br bond to Br
- Practice (10 min): Students attempt the practice questions independently; circulate and support.
- Plenary (5 min): Review answers and address misconceptions.
🏠 Homework
- Name: CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃
- Mechanism for SN2 hydrolysis of CH₃CH₂Br with OH⁻
- Product of oxidation of CH₃CH₂CH₂OH with acidified K₂Cr₂O₇
- IR peaks for CH₃COOH
- Retrosynthesis of CH₃CH₂COOCH₂CH₃ from simple precursors
🧾 Assessment
Check practice answers against the model answer; use the built-in practice questions as formative assessment.