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
Organic Synthesis and Analysis
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Component 2
What Organic Synthesis and Analysis covers
Organic Synthesis and Analysis is examined in Component 2, Organic Chemistry and Analysis, and drawn on again in Component 3. It covers planning a multi-step synthesis, choosing between alternative routes, Manipulation and separation techniques, purification and melting temperature, addition and condensation polymerisation, Polyesters and polyamides, high resolution proton NMR, combining spectra to elucidate a structure, Interpreting chromatographic data and gas chromatography and HPLC.
Where it is assessed
Component 2
Organic Chemistry and Analysis, and drawn on again in Component 3.
Check the Eduqas specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Planning a multi-step synthesisSynthetic route, first thing to identify when planning a synthesis and reagent and conditions for converting a halogenoalkane into an alcohol.Open →
- Choosing between alternative routesRecall questions on the factors weighed when comparing two routes, why fewer steps is only a guide and the overall yield is the product of the step yields, atom economy and how it differs from percentage yield, why a lower atom economy route may still be chosen, and the place of hazard and cost.Open →
- Manipulation and separation techniquesPurpose of heating a reaction mixture under reflux, how a reflux apparatus is arranged and purpose of distillation in an organic preparation.Open →
- Purification and melting temperatureApparatus used to filter the crystals from the cold mixture and why an impurity lowers and broadens the melting temperature.Open →
- Addition and condensation polymerisationAddition polymerisation, condensation polymerisation and essential difference between the two kinds of polymerisation.Open →
- Polyesters and polyamidesMonomers of the polyester terylene and polymer is a protein.Open →
- High resolution proton NMRRecall questions on what splitting adds to a low resolution spectrum, the n+1 rule and the singlet, doublet, triplet and quartet patterns, why equivalent hydrogens do not split each other, why an OH peak is a broad singlet, and identifying a compound from a full set of patterns.Open →
- Combining spectra to elucidate a structureRecall questions on identifying compounds from a combination of mass, infrared and NMR evidence, which technique gives the molecular formula, which the functional groups and which the skeleton, worked identifications, and why one technique alone is rarely enough.Open →
- Interpreting chromatographic dataRecall questions on what a chromatogram shows about the number of components and why that is only a minimum, the Rf equation and worked values, why an Rf can never exceed one and must be quoted with its solvent, identifying a component against a reference, and two-way chromatography.Open →
- Gas chromatography and HPLCStationary and mobile phases in gas chromatography, two gases used as the carrier in gas chromatography and retention time.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
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Outline the order in which spectral evidence is used to elucidate a structure.
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Name four factors to weigh when choosing between two synthetic routes.
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Why must the apparatus never be sealed during reflux?
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What property must a suitable recrystallisation solvent have?
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Define addition polymerisation.
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What functional group links the units of a polyester?
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How does the proton NMR spectrum of ethanoic acid confirm its identity?
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What does a chromatogram allow you to conclude about the number of components in a mixture?
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Name the stationary and mobile phases in gas chromatography.
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What is meant by a synthetic route?
Process
Why is a route with fewer steps usually preferred?
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Where should the thermometer bulb be placed during a distillation, and why?
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Why is the hot solution filtered before it is allowed to cool during a recrystallisation?
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State the essential difference between addition and condensation polymerisation
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What functional group links the units of a polyamide?
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What extra information does a high resolution proton NMR spectrum give over a low resolution one?
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A compound of formula C₃H₆O gives one singlet in its proton NMR. What is it?
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Give the equation for the Rf value.
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Name two gases used as the carrier in gas chromatography.
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What is the first thing to identify when planning a synthesis?
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Why is atom economy a better guide than yield when comparing two routes on paper?
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Why must a separating funnel be vented during shaking?
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Name the apparatus used to filter the crystals from the cold mixture in a recrystallisation
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What feature must a monomer have to undergo addition polymerisation?
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Which two kinds of monomer form a polyester?
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State the n+1 rule.
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How would propanal be distinguished from propanone by proton NMR?
Numbers
A spot travels 3.5 cm while the solvent front travels 7.0 cm. Calculate the Rf value.
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What is the retention time?
Take Organic Synthesis and Analysis further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is meant by a synthetic route?
Model answer
A synthetic route is the sequence of reactions by which a target compound is made from an available starting material.
- 2
Why is a target compound often made in several steps rather than one?
Model answer
No single reaction converts the starting material into the target, so a sequence of known conversions is chained together, each changing one functional group.
- 3
What is the first thing to identify when planning a synthesis?
Model answer
The functional group present in the starting material and the functional group required in the target.
- 4
State the reagent and conditions for converting a halogenoalkane into an alcohol.
Model answer
Warm with aqueous sodium hydroxide, which brings about nucleophilic substitution.
- 5
State the reagent and conditions for converting a halogenoalkane into a nitrile.
Model answer
Heat under reflux with potassium cyanide dissolved in ethanol.
- 6
Why is converting a halogenoalkane into a nitrile useful in a synthesis?
Model answer
It adds a carbon atom to the chain, which is one of the few common ways of lengthening the carbon skeleton at this level.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Organic Synthesis and Analysis revision questions
- What does Organic Synthesis and Analysis cover in Eduqas A-Level Chemistry?
- 10 subtopics: planning a multi-step synthesis, choosing between alternative routes, manipulation and separation techniques, purification and melting temperature, addition and condensation polymerisation, polyesters and polyamides, high resolution proton nmr, combining spectra to elucidate a structure, interpreting chromatographic data and gas chromatography and hplc. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Organic Synthesis and Analysis organised?
- By the Eduqas A410QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Organic Synthesis and Analysis, 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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