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
Redox
- 5 subtopics
- 15 things to know
- Unit AS 1
What Redox covers
Redox 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 rules for assigning oxidation states, oxidation states in peroxides, hydrides and Roman numeral names, oxidation, reduction and electron transfer, oxidising agents, reducing agents and disproportionation and half-equations and combining them into redox equations.
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 5 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Rules for assigning oxidation statesOxidation state of an element in a compound, oxidation state of any element in its uncombined form and oxidation state of a simple monatomic ion.Open →
- Oxidation states in peroxides, hydrides and Roman numeral namesOxidation state of oxygen in a peroxide, oxidation state of hydrogen in a metal hydride and oxidation state of hydrogen in calcium hydride, CaH₂.Open →
- Oxidation, reduction and electron transferTerm redox reaction, oxidation in terms of electrons and reduction in terms of electrons.Open →
- Oxidising agents, reducing agents and disproportionationOxidising agent in terms of electrons and reducing agent in terms of electrons.Open →
- Half-equations and combining them into redox equationsRecall questions on what a half-equation is and which side the electrons go, balancing one in acid solution, the manganate(VII), dichromate(VI), iron(II), chlorine and thiosulfate half-equations, combining two into a full ionic equation, and checking both atoms and charge.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Define oxidation and reduction, first in terms of electrons and then in terms of oxidation state.
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What is the oxidation state of oxygen in a peroxide?
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Define an oxidising agent in terms of electrons.
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On which side of an oxidation half-equation are the electrons written?
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What is meant by the oxidation state of an element in a compound?
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Explain why oxygen is −1 rather than −2 in hydrogen peroxide.
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Define the term redox reaction.
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Define a reducing agent in terms of electrons.
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Write the half-equation for the oxidation of an iron(II) ion.
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State the rule that relates the oxidation states in a neutral compound.
Numbers
Calculate the oxidation state of oxygen in sodium peroxide, Na₂O₂.
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Define oxidation in terms of electrons.
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Why does an oxidising agent end the reaction in a lower oxidation state?
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Write the half-equation for the reduction of chlorine to chloride ions.
Take Redox further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is meant by the oxidation state of an element in a compound?
Model answer
The oxidation state is the charge an atom would carry if every bond in the species were treated as fully ionic.
- 2
State the oxidation state of any element in its uncombined form.
Model answer
An element in its uncombined form has an oxidation state of zero, whether it exists as single atoms or as molecules such as O₂ or P₄.
- 3
What is the oxidation state of a simple monatomic ion?
Model answer
It is equal to the charge on the ion, so Mg²⁺ is +2 and Br⁻ is −1.
- 4
State the rule that relates the oxidation states in a neutral compound.
Model answer
The oxidation states of all the atoms in a neutral compound add up to zero.
- 5
State the rule that relates the oxidation states in a polyatomic ion.
Model answer
The oxidation states of all the atoms in a polyatomic ion add up to the overall charge on that ion.
- 6
Give the usual oxidation state of oxygen in its compounds.
Model answer
Oxygen is usually −2 in its compounds.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Redox revision questions
- What does Redox cover in CCEA A-Level Chemistry?
- 5 subtopics: rules for assigning oxidation states, oxidation states in peroxides, hydrides and roman numeral names, oxidation, reduction and electron transfer, oxidising agents, reducing agents and disproportionation and half-equations and combining them into redox equations. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Redox organised?
- By the CCEA 1110 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Redox, 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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