Key term
Eduqas A-Level Chemistry A410QS
Formulae and Equations
Basic Ideas About Atoms
Topic overviewRadioactive decay and nuclear equationsBehaviour of α, β and γ radiationHalf-life and radioactive decay calculationsRadiation hazards and the uses of radioisotopesIonisation energy and its variation between elementsSuccessive ionisation energies and electronic structureOrbitals and electron configurations of elements 1 to 36Emission and absorption spectraThe hydrogen spectrum, E = hf and the convergence limit
Chemical Calculations
Topic overviewRelative atomic, isotopic, formula and molecular massPrinciples of the mass spectrometerMass spectra, isotopic abundance and relative atomic massEmpirical and molecular formulaeThe mole, the Avogadro constant and molar massMoles, grams and numbers of particlesConcentration and solubilityMolar volume and gas volume correctionsThe ideal gas equationStoichiometry and reacting quantitiesAcid-base titration calculationsAtom economy, percentage yield and percentage error
Bonding
Solid Structures
The Periodic Table
Topic overviewArrangement of the elements and the s-, p- and d-blocksOxidation and reduction as electron transferTrends across periods and down groupsReactions of Group 2 elements with oxygen, water and steamReactions of the aqueous cations Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺Flame coloursReactivity of Group 1 and Group 2 metalsThermal stability of the Group 2 carbonates and hydroxidesSolubility of the Group 2 hydroxides and sulfatesBasic character of the Group 1 and Group 2 oxides and hydroxidesVolatility of the halogens and their reactions with metalsOxidising power, displacement reactions and the silver nitrate testWater treatment, salt preparation and gravimetric analysis
Simple Equilibria and Acid-Base Reactions
Thermochemistry
Rates of Reaction
The Wider Impact of Chemistry
Organic Compounds
Hydrocarbons
Topic overviewAlkanes and the sigma-bonded frameworkCombustion of alkanes and the use of fossil fuelsFree radical substitution and the photochlorination of alkanesAlkenes and the reactivity of the C=C bondE–Z isomerismElectrophilic addition of bromine to alkenesTests for alkenesMarkovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide and carbocation stabilityCatalytic hydrogenation of alkenesAddition polymerisation
Halogenoalkanes
Topic overviewNucleophilic substitution of primary halogenoalkanesElimination reactions forming alkenesBond polarity, bond enthalpy and the ease of substitutionThe silver nitrate test for halogenoalkanesUses of halogenoalkanes and the regulation of their useCFCs and their effect in the upper atmosphereHeating under reflux
Alcohols and Carboxylic Acids
Topic overviewIndustrial preparation of ethanol from etheneFermentation and the distillation of ethanolBiofuels and the issues they raiseClassifying alcohols as primary, secondary and tertiaryDehydration of alcohols to alkenesOxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes and carboxylic acidsOxidation of secondary alcohols to ketonesThe dichromate(VI) test for alcoholsCarboxylic acids and the sodium hydrogencarbonate testReactions of carboxylic acids with bases, carbonates and hydrogencarbonatesEsterification and separation by distillation
Instrumental Analysis
Redox and Standard Electrode Potential
Redox Reactions
Chemistry of the P-Block
Topic overviewAmphoteric behaviour of aluminium and leadThe inert pair effect in Groups 3, 4 and 5Electron-deficient compounds and expanded octetsAl₂Cl₆ and donor-acceptor compoundsHexagonal and cubic boron nitrideStability of oxidation states II and IV in Group 4Carbon dioxide and lead(II) oxideBonding in the Group 4 chloridesHydrolysis of the Group 4 chloridesReactions of aqueous lead(II) ionsChlorine with cold and warm aqueous sodium hydroxideBleaching and bactericidal action of chlorine and chlorate(I)Sodium halides with concentrated sulfuric acid
Chemistry of the D-Block Transition Metals
Topic overviewOxidation states of the d-block elementsImportant oxidation states and the colours of aqueous ionsBonding in tetrahedral and octahedral complexesThe origin of colour and the splitting of d-orbitalsLigand exchange and change of coordination numberColours and formulae of copper and cobalt complex ionsHeterogeneous and homogeneous catalysisNickel in hydrogenation and iron in the Haber processVanadium(V) oxide and manganese(IV) oxide as catalystsReactions of Cr³⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ with excess aqueous hydroxide
Chemical Kinetics
Enthalpy Changes for Solids and Solutions
Entropy and Feasibility of Reactions
Equilibrium Constants
Acid-Base Equilibria
Topic overviewThe Lowry–Brønsted theory and conjugate pairsStrong and weak acids and the dissociation constant KaThe ionic product of water, KwpH of strong acids and strong basespH of weak acids from Ka and pKaTitration curvesHow buffer solutions workBuffer calculationsBuffers in living systems and industrySalt hydrolysis and the choice of indicator
Stereoisomerism
Aromaticity
Alcohols and Phenols
Aldehydes and Ketones
Topic overviewPreparing aldehydes and ketones by oxidation of alcoholsDistinguishing aldehydes and ketones with Tollens’ reagent and Fehling’s solutionReduction of aldehydes and ketones using NaBH₄Nucleophilic addition of HCN to aldehydes and ketonesReaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazineThe triiodomethane (iodoform) test
Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives
Topic overviewRelative acidity of carboxylic acids, phenols, alcohols and waterPreparing carboxylic acids by oxidationReduction and decarboxylation of carboxylic acidsAcid chlorides and their reactionsEsters and their hydrolysisAmides and their hydrolysisNitriles from carboxylic acids and halogenoalkanesHydroxynitriles, hydrolysis and reduction of nitriles
Amines
Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins
Organic Synthesis and Analysis
Topic overviewPlanning a multi-step synthesisChoosing between alternative routesManipulation and separation techniquesPurification and melting temperatureAddition and condensation polymerisationPolyesters and polyamidesHigh resolution proton NMRCombining spectra to elucidate a structureInterpreting chromatographic dataGas chromatography and HPLC
Specified Practical Work
Topic overviewGravimetric analysis and qualitative analysis of unknown solutionsStandard solutions, standardising an acid and preparing a soluble saltBack titration and double titrationDetermining enthalpy changes by calorimetryFollowing a rate by gas collection, the iodine clock and reaction orderElectrochemical cells, redox titration and the estimation of copperDetermining an equilibrium constant and following a titration with a pH probeHydrolysis of 1-bromobutane and the preparation of an esterOrganic synthesis, purification and identification
Practical Skills and Techniques
Topic overviewChoosing apparatus and recording measurementsVolumetric technique with pipette, burette and volumetric flaskTitration procedure and the choice of indicatorHeating, heating under reflux and distillationFiltration, purification and qualitative testingMelting temperature, chromatography and electrochemical cellsVariables, errors and risk in evaluating a method
Mathematical Skills in Chemistry
Topic overviewStandard form, units and significant figuresRatios, fractions and percentagesChanging the subject and substituting valuesLogarithms, pH and pKaExponentials, the Arrhenius equation and rateGraphs, gradients and interceptsTangents and rates of changeArea under a curveUncertainty and combining errorsThe gas equation and equilibrium expressions
Hydrocarbons
- 10 subtopics
- 29 things to know
- Components 1 and 2
What Hydrocarbons covers
Hydrocarbons is examined in Components 1 and 2, since the Core Ideas are examined on both written papers, and drawn on again in Component 3. It covers alkanes and the sigma-bonded framework, combustion of alkanes and the use of fossil fuels, free radical substitution and the photochlorination of alkanes, alkenes and the reactivity of the C=C bond, E–Z isomerism, electrophilic addition of bromine to alkenes, tests for alkenes, Markovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide and carbocation stability, catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes and addition polymerisation.
Where it is assessed
Components 1 and 2
the Core Ideas, Principles and Concepts, which are examined on both written papers and drawn on again in Component 3.
Check the Eduqas specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Alkanes and the sigma-bonded frameworkDescribing an alkane as saturated, bond angle around each carbon atom in an alkane and only two types of reaction that alkanes readily undergo.Open →
- Combustion of alkanes and the use of fossil fuelsProducts of the complete combustion of any alkane and why alkanes make convenient fuels despite being chemically unreactive.Open →
- Free radical substitution and the photochlorination of alkanesType of mechanism by which methane reacts with chlorine, condition required for methane and chlorine to react together and three stages of a free radical substitution mechanism.Open →
- Alkenes and the reactivity of the C=C bondDescribing an alkene as unsaturated, two components of a carbon-carbon double bond and why alkenes are much more reactive than alkanes.Open →
- E–Z isomerismOrigin of E–Z isomerism in an alkene, descriptor Z and descriptor E.Open →
- Electrophilic addition of bromine to alkenesMechanism by which bromine reacts with ethene, product formed when bromine adds to ethene and how a bromine molecule.Open →
- Tests for alkenesObserved when bromine water is shaken with an alkane, main organic product formed when bromine water reacts with ethene and why the bromine test distinguishes an alkene from an alkane.Open →
- Markovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide and carbocation stabilityRecall questions on the two possible products from an unsymmetrical alkene, which predominates and why, the relative stability of primary, secondary and tertiary carbocations, the inductive effect of alkyl groups, and predicting the major product for named alkenes.Open →
- Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenesCatalyst and the conditions used for the hydrogenation of ethene, type of catalysis involved in the hydrogenation of ethene and how the nickel surface brings about the reaction.Open →
- Addition polymerisationAddition polymerisation, term monomer and term repeat unit.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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What is a hydrocarbon?
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Write the equation for the complete combustion of methane.
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State the condition required for methane and chlorine to react together.
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State the bond angle around each carbon of the C=C bond in ethene and the shape of the molecule.
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What is stereoisomerism?
Process
Name the mechanism by which bromine reacts with ethene.
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Which product predominates when hydrogen bromide adds to propene?
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What is addition polymerisation?
Process
How is a σ-bond formed?
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Write the equation for the complete combustion of ethane.
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Write the equation for the initiation step in the chlorination of methane, and name the type of bond fission involved.
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Why is a π-bond weaker than a σ-bond?
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Explain the origin of E–Z isomerism in an alkene.
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Name the product formed when bromine adds to ethene.
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Describe the colour change seen when bromine water is added to an alkene.
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Explain why the hydrogen bromide molecule acts as an electrophile without needing to be polarised by the alkene.
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Write the equation for the hydrogenation of ethene.
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Define the term monomer.
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What is the bond angle around each carbon atom in an alkane, and what shape does that give?
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Write the equation for the complete combustion of octane.
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Explain why ultraviolet light breaks the Cl—Cl bond rather than the C—H bond of methane.
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The C=C bond enthalpy is 612 kJ mol⁻¹ and the C—C bond enthalpy is 347 kJ mol⁻¹. Explain what this comparison shows about the π-bond.
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State the condition that a molecule must meet for E–Z isomerism to be possible.
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Write the overall equation for the reaction of ethene with bromine.
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What is observed when bromine water is shaken with an alkane?
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Describe the first two curly arrows in the addition of hydrogen bromide to propene.
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State the catalyst and the conditions used for the hydrogenation of ethene.
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Define the term repeat unit.
Take Hydrocarbons further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a hydrocarbon?
Model answer
A hydrocarbon is a compound containing only the elements carbon and hydrogen.
- 2
What is meant by describing an alkane as saturated?
Model answer
It means that every carbon-carbon bond in the molecule is a single bond, so the molecule holds as many hydrogen atoms as it possibly can.
- 3
How is a σ-bond formed?
Model answer
A σ-bond is formed by the end-on overlap of two orbitals, one from each atom, along the line joining the two nuclei.
- 4
Where is the electron density of a σ-bond concentrated?
Model answer
It is concentrated in the region directly between the two bonded nuclei.
- 5
State the type of bonding in the C—C and C—H bonds of an alkane.
Model answer
Both are single covalent σ-bonds.
- 6
What is the bond angle around each carbon atom in an alkane, and what shape does that give?
Model answer
The angle is 109.5°, which gives a tetrahedral arrangement around every carbon.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Hydrocarbons revision questions
- What does Hydrocarbons cover in Eduqas A-Level Chemistry?
- 10 subtopics: alkanes and the sigma-bonded framework, combustion of alkanes and the use of fossil fuels, free radical substitution and the photochlorination of alkanes, alkenes and the reactivity of the c=c bond, e–z isomerism, electrophilic addition of bromine to alkenes, tests for alkenes, markovnikov addition of hydrogen bromide and carbocation stability, catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes and addition polymerisation. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Hydrocarbons organised?
- By the Eduqas A410QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Hydrocarbons, 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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