Key term
CCEA A-Level Chemistry 1110
Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance
Atomic Structure
Topic overviewProtons, neutrons and electronsAtomic number, mass number and the composition of ionsIsotopes and relative isotopic massRelative atomic, molecular and formula massMass spectra and relative atomic mass calculationsMass spectra of diatomic elementsElectronic configuration and the building up principleOrbitals, electron spin and orbital shapesThe s-, p-, d- and f-blocks of the Periodic TableIonisation energies and their equationsTrends in ionisation energy as evidence for shells and subshells
Bonding
Topic overviewIonic bonding and electron transferDot and cross diagrams for ionic compoundsCovalent bonding and the shared pairLone pairs and co-ordinate bondingDot and cross diagrams for covalent molecules and ionsThe octet rule and its limitationsElectronegativity and bond polarityMetallic bonding
Intermolecular Forces and Structure
Shapes of Molecules and Ions
Redox
The Halogens
Acid-Base Titrations
Qualitative Tests
Formulae and Amounts of a Substance
Nomenclature and Isomerism in Organic Chemistry
Alkanes
Topic overviewAlkanes as saturated hydrocarbonsBoiling points of alkanes and van der Waals' forcesBoiling points of branched isomersComplete and incomplete combustion of alkanesPollutants from alkane fuels and the atmosphereCatalytic convertersRadicals, homolytic fission and heterolytic fissionFree radical substitution of alkanes
Alkenes
Topic overviewUnsaturated hydrocarbons and the bromine water testSigma and pi bonds in the carbon–carbon double bondElectron density at C=C, reactivity and catalytic hydrogenationAddition of chlorine and bromine to alkenesAddition of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromideElectrophiles, heterolytic fission and the addition mechanismCarbocation stability and Markovnikov additionAddition polymerisation of alkenes
Halogenoalkanes
Topic overviewClassification and boiling points of halogenoalkanesLaboratory preparation of a halogenoalkane from an alcoholNucleophiles and hydrolysis with aqueous alkaliReactions with ammonia and with potassium cyanideRelative rates of hydrolysis and carbon–halogen bond enthalpyElimination using ethanolic potassium hydroxideCFCs and the ozone layer
Alcohols
Infrared Spectroscopy
Energetics
Topic overviewExothermic and endothermic changesStandard conditions and the standard enthalpy changeEnthalpy level diagramsStandard enthalpies of combustion and formationStandard enthalpy of neutralisationMeasuring enthalpy changes by experimentEnthalpy calculations using q = mcΔTHess's Law and enthalpy cyclesIndirect enthalpy calculations using Hess's LawAverage bond enthalpies and their limitations
Kinetics
Equilibrium
Group II Elements and Their Compounds
Topic overviews-block character and electronic configurationTrends in atomic radius and first ionisation energyReactions of the elements with oxygen, water and dilute acidsThe oxides and their reactions with water and dilute acidsThermal stability of the carbonates and hydroxidesUses of magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate and limeSolubility trends and solubility curves
Lattice Enthalpy, Entropy and Free Energy
Topic overviewLattice enthalpy and the factors that control itBorn–Haber cycles for Group I halidesBorn–Haber cycles for Group II halides and oxidesEnthalpy of hydration and enthalpy of solutionCalculations on dissolving ionic compoundsEntropy and the limits of enthalpy changeStandard entropy change calculationsFree energy and the temperature of feasibility
Rates of Reaction
Equilibrium and Acid-Base Equilibria
Topic overviewEquilibrium concentrations from initial amountsKc expressions, values and unitsBrønsted–Lowry acids, bases and conjugate pairsKw, pH and the pH of strong acids and basesKa, pKa and the pH of weak acidsBuffer solutions and how they resist pH changeCalculating the pH of a buffer solutionTitration curves, indicators and the pH of salt solutions
Isomerism
Aldehydes and Ketones
Topic overviewStructure and naming of aldehydes and ketonesBoiling points and solubility of carbonyl compoundsPreparation from primary and secondary alcoholsReaction with hydrogen cyanide and the nucleophilic addition mechanismRacemic mixtures from nucleophilic addition2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and the identification of carbonylsDistinguishing aldehydes from ketones, and reduction with lithal
Carboxylic Acids
Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids
Topic overviewEsters and acyl chlorides: structure and namingBoiling points and solubility of monoestersMaking esters from alcohols with carboxylic acids or acyl chloridesThe laboratory preparation of a liquid esterFats and oils as esters of glycerolTransesterification, biodiesel and margarineReactions of acyl chlorides with water and alcohols
Aromatic Chemistry
Spectroscopy and Chromatography
Topic overviewThe mass spectrum: molecular ion and base peakFragmentation and the formulae of fragment ionsHigh resolution mass spectrometryNuclear magnetic resonance and the TMS standardChemically equivalent hydrogens and chemical shiftIntegration curvesSpin–spin splitting and the n+1 ruleDeducing a structure from an nmr spectrumPaper and thin-layer chromatographyGas–liquid chromatography
Volumetric Analysis
Transition Metals
Topic overviewThe characteristic properties of the transition metalsElectronic configurations of the metals and their ionsComplexes, ligands and coordination numberOxidation number, redox and disproportionationMonodentate, bidentate and polydentate ligandsLigand strength and the entropy of ligand replacementLigand replacement in copper(II) complexesThe colours of the aqueous transition metal ionsHydroxide precipitates with sodium hydroxidePrecipitates with aqueous ammonia and their dissolutionVanadium and the interconversion of its oxidation states
Electrode Potentials
Amines
Amides and Polymers
Amino Acids and Proteins
Carboxylic Acids
- 5 subtopics
- 15 things to know
- Unit A2 1
What Carboxylic Acids covers
Carboxylic Acids is examined in Unit A2 1, Further Physical and Organic Chemistry, and drawn on again in Unit A2 3, Further Practical Chemistry. It covers structure, naming and physical properties of carboxylic acids, preparation from primary alcohols and aldehydes, formation by hydrolysis of esters and nitriles, salt formation with carbonates, hydroxides and ammonia and reactions with alcohols, phosphorus pentachloride and lithal.
Where it is assessed
Unit A2 1
Further Physical and Organic Chemistry, and again in Unit A2 3, Further Practical Chemistry.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 5 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Structure, naming and physical properties of carboxylic acidsCarboxyl functional group, acid with the structural formula CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH and branched acid with the structural formula (CH₃)₂CHCOOH.Open →
- Preparation from primary alcohols and aldehydesWhy an excess of the oxidising agent is used, purpose of heating under reflux rather than distilling and colour change seen during the oxidation.Open →
- Formation by hydrolysis of esters and nitrilesConditions for the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of an ester, conditions for the base hydrolysis of an ester and why base hydrolysis of an ester goes to completion.Open →
- Salt formation with carbonates, hydroxides and ammoniaWhy carboxylic acids are classified as weak acids, how the gas released in that reaction is confirmed and salt formed when propanoic acid reacts with sodium hydroxide.Open →
- Reactions with alcohols, phosphorus pentachloride and lithalConditions used for esterifying a carboxylic acid with an alcohol, ester formed from propanoic acid and methanol and smell of a typical short-chain ester.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
How does ethanoic acid ionise, how does it react with sodium carbonate, and how is the gas released confirmed?
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Give the general molecular formula of a saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid.
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Define hydrolysis.
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Name the class of compound formed when a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol.
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Give the molecular and structural formulae of ethanoic acid.
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Name the oxidising agent used to prepare a carboxylic acid from a primary alcohol.
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State the conditions for the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of an ester.
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Write the equation for the ionisation of ethanoic acid in water.
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State the conditions used for esterifying a carboxylic acid with an alcohol.
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Name the acid with the structural formula CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH.
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Write the equation for the oxidation of ethanol to ethanoic acid using [O] for the oxidising agent.
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Write the equation for the acid hydrolysis of ethyl ethanoate.
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Write the equation for the reaction of ethanoic acid with sodium carbonate.
Key term
Write the equation for the reaction of ethanoic acid with ethanol.
Take Carboxylic Acids further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Describe the carboxyl functional group.
Model answer
The carboxyl group is a carbon atom joined to an oxygen atom by a double bond and to a hydroxyl group by a single bond, written as −COOH.
- 2
Give the general molecular formula of a saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid.
Model answer
The general formula is CₙH₂ₙO₂.
- 3
Give the molecular and structural formulae of ethanoic acid.
Model answer
Ethanoic acid has the molecular formula C₂H₄O₂ and the structural formula CH₃COOH.
- 4
Name the acid with the structural formula CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH.
Model answer
The compound is butanoic acid.
- 5
Give the structural formula of hexanoic acid.
Model answer
Its structural formula is CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂COOH.
- 6
Name the branched acid with the structural formula (CH₃)₂CHCOOH.
Model answer
The compound is 2-methylpropanoic acid.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Carboxylic Acids revision questions
- What does Carboxylic Acids cover in CCEA A-Level Chemistry?
- 5 subtopics: structure, naming and physical properties of carboxylic acids, preparation from primary alcohols and aldehydes, formation by hydrolysis of esters and nitriles, salt formation with carbonates, hydroxides and ammonia and reactions with alcohols, phosphorus pentachloride and lithal. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Carboxylic Acids organised?
- By the CCEA 1110 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Carboxylic Acids, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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