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- Subject: Science
- AS: AS90730
- Level: 3
- Credits: 4
- External
Science 3.4 Describe selected organic compounds and their uses
Subject content
Make sure you have up-to-date course notes and don't forget to use them for your revision. If you haven't got them, see your teacher.
You will be required to answer questions about selected organic compounds that may refer to their:
- structure
- physical and chemical properties
- identifying and naming substances
- functional group
- uses and effects in household, health, environmental, and industrial contexts.
You will be expected to name and draw the formulae below for the organic compounds listed below, of up to 8 carbons. You can use this summary guide to the structure and naming of the functional groups.
Information of specific selected organic compounds may include:
- Alkanes and alkenes:
- limited to unbranched chains
- properties include solubility, melting and boiling point, and degree of saturation
- effect on properties of increasing carbon chain length
- reactions are limited to combustion, addition reactions with hydrogen, and the addition polymerisation of ethene
- uses could include fuels.
- Alcohols:
- limited to unbranched, primary alcohols
- properties include solubility, and melting and boiling points
- reactions are limited to complete oxidation of alcohols and esterification
- uses could include solvents and fuels.
- Carboxylic acids:
- limited to mono carboxylic acids
- properties could include pH and solubility
- reactions are limited to esterification
- uses could include the formation of esters, including triglycerides.
- Fats and oils:
- properties could include melting point, degree of saturation, and shape of molecules of fats and oils
- reactions will be limited to the tests for unsaturation, using bromine or iodine
- effect on melting point of increasing fatty acid chain length, and degree of saturation
- uses could include:
- fats and oils as foods and their effect on human health considering the degree of saturation, and cis and trans structures
- action of the soap and detergent anion on triglycerides and hydrocarbons.
Revise these selected organic compounds on the website Extra GCSE organic chemistry.
Visit the Auckland University’s site Bestchoice For Chemistry. Select Course 12 and 13, in turn, and then Option Organic. This is a free site, but note that there is a requirement that you logon.
