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
Isomerism
- 5 subtopics
- 15 things to know
- Unit A2 1
What Isomerism covers
Isomerism is examined in Unit A2 1, Further Physical and Organic Chemistry, and drawn on again in Unit A2 3, Further Practical Chemistry. It covers structural isomerism between different families, chiral centres and optical isomers, representing optical isomers in three dimensions, plane polarised light, optical activity and racemic mixtures and Stereochemistry, drug action and receptor sites.
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.
- Structural isomerism between different familiesTerm structural isomers, two families represented by the isomers of C₃H₆O and two families that share the general formula CₙH₂ₙ.Open →
- Chiral centres and optical isomersAsymmetric or chiral centre, why a chiral centre gives rise to two isomers and term enantiomers.Open →
- Representing optical isomers in three dimensionsShape around a chiral carbon atom, why a three-dimensional representation is needed to show optical isomers and convention used for a bond drawn as a solid wedge.Open →
- Plane polarised light, optical activity and racemic mixturesWhat is meant by plane polarised light, how plane polarised light is produced and term optically active.Open →
- Stereochemistry, drug action and receptor sitesRecall questions on what makes a receptor site stereospecific, why activity depends on which enantiomer is used, why the inactive one is not always harmless, thalidomide and why supplying one enantiomer would not have helped, why an ordinary synthesis gives a racemate, chiral catalysts, and both sides of the regulatory argument.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What is a stereospecific receptor site, how do the enantiomers of a chiral drug usually differ, and what did thalidomide show?
Key term
Define an asymmetric or chiral centre.
Key term
State the shape around a chiral carbon atom.
Key term
State how plane polarised light is produced.
Key term
Define the term structural isomers.
Key term
Define the term enantiomers.
Key term
Explain why a three-dimensional representation is needed to show optical isomers.
Key term
Define the term optically active.
Key term
Explain what is meant by a stereospecific receptor site.
Key term
Explain how two compounds with the same molecular formula can belong to different homologous series.
Key term
Explain the difference between stereoisomerism and structural isomerism.
Key term
Describe the convention used for a bond drawn as a solid wedge.
Key term
Name the instrument used to measure the rotation of plane polarised light.
Key term
Explain why the activity of a drug can depend on which enantiomer is used.
Take Isomerism further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define the term structural isomers.
Model answer
Structural isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms in the molecule.
- 2
Explain how two compounds with the same molecular formula can belong to different homologous series.
Model answer
The same atoms can be joined together to give different functional groups, so one arrangement may give an alcohol and another an ether.
- 3
Name the two compounds of molecular formula C₂H₆O that belong to different families.
Model answer
The two compounds are ethanol and methoxymethane.
- 4
State the two families represented by the isomers of C₃H₆O.
Model answer
The formula fits an aldehyde, propanal, and a ketone, propanone.
- 5
Give the names of three isomers of C₃H₆O₂ and state the family of each.
Model answer
Propanoic acid is a carboxylic acid, while methyl ethanoate and ethyl methanoate are both esters.
- 6
Name the two families that share the general formula CₙH₂ₙ.
Model answer
Alkenes and cycloalkanes both have the general formula CₙH₂ₙ.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Isomerism revision questions
- What does Isomerism cover in CCEA A-Level Chemistry?
- 5 subtopics: structural isomerism between different families, chiral centres and optical isomers, representing optical isomers in three dimensions, plane polarised light, optical activity and racemic mixtures and stereochemistry, drug action and receptor sites. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Isomerism organised?
- By the CCEA 1110 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Isomerism, 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.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.