An introduction to organic chemistry

Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Formulae, Nomenclature and Reaction TypesSign up

understand the difference between hazard and risk · understand the hazards associated with organic compounds and why it is necessary to carry out risk assessments when dealing with potentially hazardous materials · be able to suggest ways in which risks can be reduced and reactions carried out safely, for example: (i) working on a smaller scale; (ii) taking precautions specific to the hazard; (iii) using an alternative method that involves less hazardous substances · understand the concepts of homologous series and functional group · be able to apply the rules of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature to: (i) name compounds relevant to this specification; (ii) draw these compounds, as they are encountered in the specification, using structural, displayed and skeletal formulae (students will be expected to know prefixes for compounds up to C10) · be able to classify reactions as addition, substitution, oxidation, reduction or polymerisation · understand that bond breaking can be: (i) homolytic, to produce free radicals; (ii) heterolytic, to produce ions · know definitions of the terms 'free radical' and 'electrophile'

Reaction Mechanisms, Nucleophiles and ElectrophilesSign up

be able to classify reactions (including those in Unit 1) as addition, elimination, substitution, oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis or polymerisation · understand the concept of a reaction mechanism · understand that heterolytic bond breaking results in species that are electrophiles or nucleophiles · know the definition of the term 'nucleophile' · understand the link between bond polarity and the type of reaction mechanism a compound will undergo

Alkenes: Structure, Sigma/Pi Bonding and E-Z IsomerismSign up

know the general formula of alkenes and understand that alkenes and cycloalkenes are hydrocarbons which are unsaturated (have a carbon-carbon double bond which consists of a sigma bond and a pi bond) · be able to explain geometric isomerism in terms of restricted rotation around a C=C double bond and the nature of the substituents on the carbon atoms · understand the E-Z naming system for geometric isomers and why it is necessary to use this when the cis- and trans- naming system breaks down

Optical Isomerism, Enantiomers and Chirality in SynthesisSign up

know that optical isomerism is a result of chirality in molecules with a single chiral centre · understand that optical isomerism results from chiral centre(s) in a molecule with asymmetric carbon atom(s) and that optical isomers (enantiomers) are object and non-superimposable mirror images and be able to draw 3D diagrams of these optical isomers · know that optical activity is the ability of a single optical isomer to rotate the plane of polarisation of plane-polarised monochromatic light in molecules containing a single chiral centre · know what is meant by the term 'racemic mixture' · be able to use data on optical activity of reactants and products as evidence for SN1 and SN2 mechanisms and addition to carbonyl compounds