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
Intermolecular Forces and Structure
- 4 subtopics
- 12 things to know
- Unit AS 1
What Intermolecular Forces and Structure covers
Intermolecular Forces and Structure is examined in Unit AS 1, Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, Basic Practical Chemistry. It covers van der Waals' forces and permanent dipole-dipole attractions, hydrogen bonding, boiling points and solubility, giant ionic, metallic and giant covalent structures and molecular covalent structures and melting points across Period 3.
Where it is assessed
Unit AS 1
Basic Concepts in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, and again in Unit AS 3, Basic Practical Chemistry.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 4 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Van der Waals' forces and permanent dipole-dipole attractionsIntermolecular force and how a permanent dipole-dipole attraction arises.Open →
- Hydrogen bonding, boiling points and solubilityTwo conditions required for a hydrogen bond to form, practical importance of ice floating on water and why ethanol is completely miscible with water.Open →
- Giant ionic, metallic and giant covalent structuresStructure of solid sodium chloride, why sodium chloride has a high melting point and structure of a metal such as magnesium.Open →
- Molecular covalent structures and melting points across Period 3Structure of solid iodine, why iodine sublimes readily when warmed gently and type of structure and bonding in sodium, magnesium and aluminium.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Explain why water has a much higher boiling point than hydrogen sulfide.
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Describe the structure of a metal such as magnesium.
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State the type of structure and bonding in sodium, magnesium and aluminium.
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What is meant by an intermolecular force?
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Explain why hydrogen bonding is so much stronger than an ordinary permanent dipole-dipole attraction.
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Explain why metals conduct electricity in the solid state while ionic solids do not.
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Explain why the melting point rises from sodium to aluminium across Period 3.
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Why are van der Waals' forces present between all molecules?
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How many hydrogen bonds can one water molecule form at any moment?
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Explain why diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance.
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Which element in Period 3 has the highest melting point, and why?
Take Intermolecular Forces and Structure further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is meant by an intermolecular force?
Model answer
An intermolecular force is an attraction acting between separate molecules rather than between the atoms bonded inside a molecule.
- 2
Explain how a van der Waals' force arises between two molecules.
Model answer
The random movement of electrons gives a molecule an instantaneous dipole, which induces a dipole in a neighbouring molecule, and the two induced dipoles attract one another.
- 3
Why are van der Waals' forces present between all molecules?
Model answer
Every molecule contains moving electrons, so instantaneous dipoles can always arise however symmetrical the molecule is.
- 4
How does the strength of van der Waals' forces change as the number of electrons in a molecule increases?
Model answer
The forces become stronger, because a larger electron cloud is more easily distorted and produces bigger instantaneous dipoles.
- 5
Explain why the boiling points of the noble gases increase down Group 0.
Model answer
Each atom down the group has more electrons, so the van der Waals' forces between the atoms are stronger and more energy is needed to separate them.
- 6
Why does a straight chain alkane boil at a higher temperature than its branched isomer?
Model answer
The straight chain molecules can lie closer together over a greater length of their surfaces, so the van der Waals' forces between them are stronger.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Intermolecular Forces and Structure revision questions
- What does Intermolecular Forces and Structure cover in CCEA A-Level Chemistry?
- 4 subtopics: van der waals' forces and permanent dipole-dipole attractions, hydrogen bonding, boiling points and solubility, giant ionic, metallic and giant covalent structures and molecular covalent structures and melting points across period 3. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Intermolecular Forces and Structure organised?
- By the CCEA 1110 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Intermolecular Forces and Structure, 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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