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Chemistry 2.5 Describe the structural formulae and reactions of compounds containing selected organic functional groups

Subject content

• Follow the symbols, nomenclature, spelling, and formatting of the current IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) convention as outlined in the reference sheet in the assessment specifications.

Make sure you understand the following:

• Recognise selected organic functional groups:
• haloalkanes or halogen alkanes
• alcohol
• alkene
• alkyne
• ester
• carboxylic acid.

Note that organic compounds will involve no more than eight carbon atoms. However, larger organic molecules may be used in questions around the linking of structure and reactivity.

Revise your understanding of hydrocarbons on the BBC website – Carbon chemistry

• Draw structures and name:
  
  • straight or branched chain hydrocarbons (up to eight carbon atoms)
  • haloalkanes
  • alcohols
  • carboxylic acids (containing up to eight carbon atoms)
  • esters formed from straight chain alcohols and carboxylic acids (up to 8 carbon atoms).
  
  Check out this revision on writing or drawing organic formulas.
  
  
• Identify and draw structural geometric (cis-trans) isomers.
• Classify an alcohol or haloalkane as primary, secondary, or tertiary.
• Reactions may involve:
  • the addition reactions of alkenes of up to eight carbon atoms with H₂/Pt, Cl₂, Br₂, H₂O/H⁺, and HCl (identification of major and minor products on addition to asymmetric alkenes is included)
  • the reactions of alkenes with and MnO₄^-
  • polymerisation of alkenes
  • halogenation of alkanes (limited to monosubstitution)
  • oxidation of primary alcohols to form carboxylic acids
  • elimination of water from alcohols
  • acid reactions of carboxylic acids
  • formation of esters (may include triglycerides) from carboxylic acids and alcohols
  • hydrolysis of esters (may include triglycerides).

Use this organic chemistry index to find out the reactions, nomenclature (or naming), and cis-trans isomers of the main organic functional groups.

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