11. Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry and Types of Formulae Organic chemistry is the study of compounds containing carbon (excluding carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonates and…

What is a Homologous Series? A homologous series is a family of similar compounds with similar chemical properties, due to the presence of the same functional…

Saturated Compounds A saturated compound has molecules in which all the carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds. Alkanes are the saturated hydrocarbons: only C-C…

The Naming System An organic compound's name is built from a prefix (the number of carbon atoms in the chain) and a suffix (the functional group/homologous…

Fossil Fuels and Petroleum The fossil fuels are coal , natural gas and petroleum . Methane is the main constituent of natural gas. A hydrocarbon is a compound…

Alkanes The bonding in alkanes is single covalent throughout, so alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons . General formula: C n H 2n+2 . Name Molecular formula…

Alkenes The bonding in alkenes includes a double carbon-carbon covalent bond (C=C), so alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons . General formula: C n H 2n . Name…

Addition Reactions of Alkenes (Supplement) Because alkenes are unsaturated, the C=C double bond can open up and atoms add across it, converting the alkene into…

Manufacture of Ethanol: Fermentation Ethanol is manufactured by the fermentation of aqueous glucose, using yeast, at 25-35°C, in the absence of oxygen. C₆H₁₂O₆…

Ethanoic Acid Ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH) is a carboxylic acid and is found in vinegar. Like all carboxylic acids it is a weak acid, but it shows the same typical…

Formation of Ethanoic Acid by Oxidation of Ethanol (Supplement) Ethanoic acid can be formed by oxidising ethanol, in two different ways: Chemical oxidation:…

Polymers and Monomers A polymer is a large molecule built up from many smaller molecules called monomers , joined together in a long chain. Plastics are…

More Addition Polymers (Supplement) Any alkene monomer can undergo addition polymerisation. The repeat unit of an addition polymer always has the same atoms as…

Plastics and Their Properties Plastics are materials made from polymers. The same properties that make plastics useful - they are strong, lightweight, and…

Proteins as Natural Polyamides (Supplement) Proteins are natural polyamides , formed from amino acid monomers by condensation polymerisation. Every amino acid…