Key term
AQA A-Level Chemistry 7405
Atomic Structure
Topic overviewFundamental ParticlesMass Number and IsotopesTime of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Ionisation and AccelerationTime of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Drift, Detection and Calculating m/zElectron Configuration: Sub-shells and OrbitalsElectron Configuration: Writing Configurations for Atoms and IonsIonisation Energies and Periodic Trends
Amount of Substance
Topic overviewRelative Atomic and Molecular MassThe Mole and the Avogadro ConstantThe Ideal Gas EquationEmpirical and Molecular FormulaBalanced Equations and Reaction CalculationsAtom Economy and Percentage YieldAcid-Base Titrations: Principles, Indicators and ApparatusAcid-Base Titrations: Standard Solutions and Calculations
Bonding
Topic overviewIonic BondingCovalent, Dative Covalent and Metallic BondingCrystal Structures: Giant Ionic Lattices and DiamondCrystal Structures: Graphite and Simple Molecular SolidsShapes of Molecules and Ions: VSEPR and Electron Pair RepulsionShapes of Molecules and Ions: Predicting Shapes and Bond AnglesElectronegativity and Bond PolarityIntermolecular Forces
Energetics and Thermodynamics
Kinetics
Topic overviewCollision Theory and Activation EnergyMaxwell-Boltzmann Distribution and the Effect of TemperatureEffect of Concentration and Pressure, and CatalystsRate Equations: The Rate Equation and Orders of ReactionRate Equations: The Effect of Concentration on RateThe Rate Constant and the Arrhenius EquationDetermining Rate Equations: The Initial Rates MethodDetermining Rate Equations: Continuous MonitoringRate Equations and Reaction Mechanisms
Chemical Equilibria
Redox and Electrochemistry
Topic overviewRedox: Definitions and the Rules for Oxidation StatesRedox: Identifying Oxidation and Reduction in a ReactionHalf-Equations and Combined Redox EquationsStandard Electrode Potentials and the Hydrogen ElectrodeElectrochemical Cells and EMF CalculationsPredicting Redox Reactions from Electrode PotentialsCommercial Cells and Fuel Cells
Acids and Bases
Periodicity and Group Chemistry
Topic overviews, p, d and f Block ClassificationTrends in Period 3Group 2 Trends in Atomic Radius, Ionisation Energy and Melting PointReactions of Group 2 with WaterSolubility Trends of Group 2 HydroxidesSolubility Trends of Group 2 SulfatesUses of Group 2 CompoundsTest for Sulfate IonsTrends in Electronegativity and Boiling Point of HalogensHalogens as Oxidising Agents and Displacement ReactionsHalide Ions as Reducing Agents: Chloride and BromideHalide Ions as Reducing Agents: Iodide, and the EquationsTest for Halide Ions Using Silver NitrateTests for Ammonium, Group 2, Hydroxide and Carbonate IonsReactions of Chlorine with WaterReactions of Chlorine with Cold Dilute NaOH and Water Treatment
Period 3 Elements and Their Oxides
Topic overviewReactions of Na and Mg with WaterPeriod 3 Elements with Oxygen: The Oxides Formed and Their BondingPeriod 3 Elements with Oxygen: Structures and Oxidation StatesMelting Points of Period 3 OxidesPeriod 3 Oxides with Water: Sodium and Magnesium OxidesPeriod 3 Oxides with Water: The Acidic Oxides and the pH TrendPeriod 3 Oxides with Acids and Bases: The ReactionsPeriod 3 Oxides with Acids and Bases: Acidic, Basic and Amphoteric
Transition Metals
Topic overviewGeneral Properties of Transition MetalsComplex Ions: Ligands, Coordinate Bonds and DenticityComplex Ions: Why a Species Can Act as a Ligand, and Coordination NumberSubstitution Reactions with Monodentate LigandsSubstitution Reactions with Bidentate and Multidentate LigandsHaemoglobin and the Chelate EffectShapes of Complex Ions and StereoisomerismFormation of Coloured Ions and the d-d TransitionColorimetry and Concentration DeterminationVariable Oxidation States and Vanadium ChemistryTollens' Reagent and Redox TitrationsHeterogeneous CatalysisVanadium(V) Oxide and the Contact ProcessHomogeneous Catalysis and AutocatalysisMetal-Aqua Ions and AcidityMetal Aqua Ions with Bases: Reactions with Hydroxide and AmmoniaMetal Aqua Ions with Bases: Why They React, and Their EquationsAmphoteric HydroxidesIdentifying Transition Metal Ions by Test-Tube Reactions
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Hydrocarbons
Topic overviewAlkanes, Fractional Distillation and CrackingCombustion of Alkanes and PollutantsFree Radical Chlorination of AlkanesAlkenes: Structure, Bonding and Electrophilic AdditionMarkovnikov's Rule and Carbocation StabilityAddition Polymers and Repeating UnitsProperties and Uses of Polyalkenes
Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols and Organic Analysis
Topic overviewNucleophilic Substitution of HalogenoalkanesEffect of Bond Enthalpy on Reaction RateElimination Reactions and Competing MechanismsCFCs and Ozone DepletionIndustrial Production of AlcoholsBiofuels and Carbon NeutralityClassification and Oxidation of AlcoholsDistinguishing Aldehydes and KetonesElimination of Water from AlcoholsTest-Tube Reactions for Functional GroupsMass Spectrometry and Molecular FormulaInfrared Spectroscopy, Functional Groups and Global Warming
Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Topic overviewOxidation of Aldehydes and Distinguishing TestsReduction of Carbonyls with NaBH4Nucleophilic Addition with KCN and Hydroxynitrile FormationHazards of KCN and Formation of EnantiomersStructure and Acidity of Carboxylic AcidsEsterification and the Uses of EstersVegetable Oils, Fats and the Hydrolysis of EstersSoap and Biodiesel Production from FatsStructure of Acid Anhydrides, Acyl Chlorides and AmidesNucleophilic Addition-Elimination Reactions of Acyl ChloridesAcid Anhydrides and the Industrial Synthesis of AspirinPurifying organic solids and liquids
Aromatic Chemistry and Amines
Topic overviewBonding and Stability of BenzeneElectrophilic Substitution: NitrationElectrophilic Substitution: Friedel-Crafts AcylationPreparation of Aliphatic and Aromatic AminesBase Strength of AminesAmines as Nucleophiles, and Quaternary Ammonium SaltsAmines with Acyl Chlorides and Acid Anhydrides
Polymers, Amino Acids, Proteins and DNA
Topic overviewCondensation Polymers: PolyestersCondensation Polymers: PolyamidesIntermolecular Forces in Condensation PolymersBiodegradability and Disposal of PolymersAmino Acids and ZwitterionsPeptide Bonds and Protein StructureHydrogen Bonding and Disulfide Bridges in ProteinsHydrolysis of Proteins and TLC IdentificationEnzymes, Active Sites and Inhibitors in Drug DesignDNA: Nucleotides, the Double Helix and Base PairingCisplatin and Anticancer Drug Action
Organic Synthesis, NMR and Chromatography
Topic overviewMulti-Step Synthesis RoutesGreen Chemistry Principles in Synthesis DesignPrinciples of NMR and the Delta ScaleCarbon-13 NMR InterpretationProton NMR Chemical Shift and IntegrationSpin-Spin Splitting and the n+1 RuleTMS and Deuterated SolventsThin-Layer Chromatography and Rf ValuesColumn and Gas Chromatography, and GC-MS
Hydrocarbons
- 7 subtopics
- 21 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
What Hydrocarbons covers
Hydrocarbons is examined on Papers 2 and 3. It covers the alkanes from crude oil through cracking and combustion, the free radical mechanism of chlorination, then the alkenes, their electrophilic addition reactions and the polymers made from them.
Where it is assessed
Papers 2 and 3
Organic and the physical chemistry behind it, then the synoptic paper.
Check the AQA specification ↗The 7 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Alkanes, Fractional Distillation and CrackingSaturated hydrocarbons, separating crude oil by boiling point, and thermal and catalytic cracking.Open →
- Combustion of Alkanes and PollutantsComplete and incomplete combustion, the pollutants formed, and catalytic converters and flue gas desulfurisation.Open →
- Free Radical Chlorination of AlkanesInitiation, propagation and termination, and why the reaction gives a mixture of products.Open →
- Alkenes: Structure, Bonding and Electrophilic AdditionThe C=C double bond as a centre of high electron density, and the mechanism of electrophilic addition.Open →
- Markovnikov's Rule and Carbocation StabilityPrimary, secondary and tertiary carbocations, and predicting the major product.Open →
- Addition Polymers and Repeating UnitsDrawing the repeating unit from a monomer, and the monomer from a polymer.Open →
- Properties and Uses of PolyalkenesWhy polyalkenes are unreactive, the problems that causes, and how they are disposed of.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Name the three reagents that add across the C=C double bond of an alkene by electrophilic addition.
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What does it mean for a hydrocarbon to be saturated?
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What is petroleum?
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What are the two types of combustion that alkanes and other organic compounds can undergo?
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What products are formed during complete combustion of an alkane?
Process
What type of mechanism is the chlorination of methane?
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What does the term "unsaturated" mean when describing alkenes?
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What does Markovnikov's rule predict about the addition of HBr to an unsymmetrical alkene?
Who and when
In the addition of HBr to propene, which carbon atom does the hydrogen atom bond to according to Markovnikov's rule?
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What type of monomer is used to form addition polymers?
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What structural feature must a monomer possess to undergo addition polymerisation?
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Why are addition polymers chemically unreactive?
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What structural feature of polyalkenes makes them resistant to chemical attack?
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What property of the components allows fractional distillation to separate them?
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What products can be formed during incomplete combustion of an alkane?
Process
What are the three stages of the free radical substitution mechanism?
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What type of covalent bond is present in alkenes?
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What is a carbocation?
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How is the repeating unit of an addition polymer related to the monomer?
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How does the saturated carbon backbone of addition polymers contribute to their stability?
Take Hydrocarbons further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
An alkane vs An alkene
An alkane: a saturated hydrocarbon containing only single carbon-carbon bonds. An alkene: an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond.
Free radical substitution vs Electrophilic addition
Free radical substitution: the mechanism by which ultraviolet light drives the chlorination of an alkane. Electrophilic addition: the mechanism by which a double bond is opened by an electron-deficient species.
Thermal cracking vs Catalytic cracking
Thermal cracking: breaking long chains at high temperature and pressure, giving a high proportion of alkenes. Catalytic cracking: breaking them over a zeolite at lower temperature, giving branched and aromatic products.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What type of hydrocarbons are alkanes?
Model answer
Saturated hydrocarbons
- 2
What does it mean for a hydrocarbon to be saturated?
Model answer
The hydrocarbon contains only single carbon-carbon bonds (no double or triple bonds)
- 3
What is petroleum?
Model answer
A mixture that is predominantly alkane hydrocarbons
- 4
What is the main type of hydrocarbon found in petroleum?
Model answer
Alkanes
- 5
What process is used to separate the components of petroleum?
Model answer
Fractional distillation
- 6
What property of the components allows fractional distillation to separate them?
Model answer
Different boiling points
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Hydrocarbons revision questions
- What does Hydrocarbons cover in AQA A-Level Chemistry?
- 7 subtopics: alkanes, fractional distillation and cracking, combustion of alkanes and pollutants, free radical chlorination of alkanes, alkenes: structure, bonding and electrophilic addition, markovnikov's rule and carbocation stability, addition polymers and repeating units and properties and uses of polyalkenes. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Hydrocarbons organised?
- By the AQA 7405 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Hydrocarbons, on a schedule.
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