Evaluation
OCR A-Level Chemistry H432
Foundations in Chemistry
Topic overviewAtomic structure, isotopes and counting sub-atomic particlesRelative isotopic, atomic, molecular and formula massPredicting ionic charges and the common ionsWriting formulae, balanced equations and ionic equationsThe mole, molar mass and the Avogadro constantEmpirical and molecular formulae, and hydrated saltsGas volumes, concentration and the ideal gas equationStoichiometry, percentage yield and atom economyApparatus, and why high atom economy mattersMathematical skills and measuring mass, volume and gasAcids, alkalis, dissociation and neutralisationPreparing a standard solutionCarrying out a titration and its calculationsPlanning an experiment: variables, apparatus and recording resultsPractical safety, heating and filtrationUncertainty, percentage error, precision and accuracyEvaluating results: anomalies, conclusions, limitations and improvementsAssigning oxidation numbersRoman numerals in names, and the chlorate and nitrate ionsOxidation, reduction and metals reacting with acidsRedox equations and identifying what is oxidisedShells, orbitals and sub-shellsThe order in which sub-shells fillWriting electron configurations for atoms and ions
Bonding and Structure
Topic overviewIonic bonding and the properties of ionic compoundsCovalent and coordinate bondingLone pairs, bonding pairs and average bond enthalpyElectron pair repulsion theory, linear and trigonal planar shapesTetrahedral, pyramidal and non-linear shapes and their bond anglesOctahedral shapes, ions, and drawing molecules in three dimensionsElectronegativity, polar bonds and polar moleculesPermanent and induced dipoles, and hydrogen bondingSimple molecular lattices and why they melt easilySolubility and conductivity of simple molecular compounds
Periodic Table and Energy
Topic overviewPeriodicity and the electron configurations of periods 2 and 3The blocks, and first and successive ionisation energiesMetallic and giant covalent structures and their propertiesGroup 2 reactions with oxygen, water and acidsIonisation energy down Group 2 and the alkalinity of the hydroxidesUses of Group 2 compounds in agriculture and medicineThe halogens: boiling points, London forces and reactivityHalogen displacement reactions and the colours seenDisproportionation and the chlorination of waterTesting for halide ions with silver nitrate and ammoniaTesting for carbonate, sulfate and halide ionsTesting for ammonium ions and the order of the testsConcentration, pressure and measuring reaction rateCatalysts and their industrial importanceThe Boltzmann distribution, temperature and catalysts
Enthalpy Changes
Topic overviewExothermic and endothermic reactions and enthalpy profilesStandard conditions and the standard enthalpy changesBond enthalpies, q = mcΔT and calorimetryCalculating enthalpy change from bond enthalpiesWhy average bond enthalpies give only an approximationHess' law and enthalpy cycles from combustion and formation dataWorking through an enthalpy cycle and the sign conventionsCalorimetry and correcting for heat loss
Chemical Equilibrium
Basic Concepts of Organic Chemistry
Topic overviewIUPAC nomenclature and the alkyl groupsGeneral, structural, displayed and skeletal formulaeHomologous series, functional groups and saturationStructural isomers, bond fission and curly arrowsChain, position and functional group isomerismCurly arrows, homolytic and heterolytic fissionNucleophiles, electrophiles, radicals and the mechanism steps
Core Organic Chemistry
Topic overviewAlkanes: bonding, shape and boiling pointsCombustion of alkanes and their reaction with halogensThe radical substitution mechanism and its limitationsAlcohols: polarity, solubility and classificationOxidation, dehydration and substitution reactions of alcoholsHydrolysis of haloalkanes and comparing the ratesNucleophilic substitution and carbon-halogen bond strengthCFCs, radicals and the catalytic destruction of ozoneCombining analytical techniques to identify a compound
Alkenes
Topic overviewAlkenes: the double bond, sigma and pi bonding, and shapeE/Z and cis-trans isomerism in alkenesHydrogenation, halogenation and hydration of alkenesElectrophilic addition, carbocation stability and Markownikoff's ruleAddition polymerisation and repeat unitsWaste polymers, and biodegradable and photodegradable alternatives
Organic Synthesis
How Fast?
Topic overviewRate equations, order and the rate constantDeducing orders and finding the units of kWhat the rate equation reveals about the mechanismConcentration-time graphs and continuous monitoringHalf-life and the rate constant of a first-order reactionRate-concentration graphs and the initial rates methodClock reactions, colorimetry and analysing kinetic graphsThe rate-determining step and testing a proposed mechanismTemperature, the rate constant and the Arrhenius equationThe ln k against 1/T graph and finding the activation energy
Physical Chemistry and Transition Elements
Topic overviewMole fraction, partial pressure and ICE tablesKc and Kp expressions, their units and calculationsWhat changes the equilibrium constant, and the reaction quotientLattice enthalpy and the Born-Haber cycleEnthalpy of solution and hydration, and the effect of ionic charge and sizeEntropy and calculating entropy changeGibbs free energy and thermodynamic feasibility
Acids, Bases and Buffers
Topic overviewBrønsted-Lowry acids and bases and their reactionsKa, pKa, pH and the ionic product of waterCalculating the pH of strong acids, strong bases and weak acidspH and hydrogen ion concentrationWhat a buffer is and how it resists a change in pHBuffer calculations and the buffer that controls blood pHTitration curves, choosing an indicator and using a pH meterpH titration curves for the four acid-base combinationsHow an indicator works and choosing the right one
Redox and Electrode Potentials
Topic overviewOxidising and reducing agents, and balancing half-equationsCombining half-equations and using oxidation numbersRedox titrations and their calculationsStandard electrode potentials and setting up half-cellsThe electrochemical series and predicting feasibilityStorage cells and fuel cells
Transition Elements
Topic overviewLigands, complex ions and coordination numberElectron configurations from Sc to Zn, and which are transition elementsVariable oxidation states, coloured ions and catalysisThe shapes of complexes, stereoisomerism and cisplatinLigand substitution, haemoglobin and the copper complexesHydroxide precipitates of iron, manganese and chromiumRedox interconversions of iron, chromium and copperWhy ligand substitution happens and the changes it causesPrecipitation reactions written as aqua complexesDissolving hydroxides in excess ammonia and distinguishing the ions
Aromatic Compounds
Topic overviewThe delocalised model of benzene and the evidence for itNitration, halogenation and Friedel-Crafts reactions of benzeneThe reactions of phenol, and directing effectsElectrophilic substitution and directing effectsPhenol: acidity, bromination and nitrationWhy phenol is more reactive than benzene, and planning a synthesis
Organic Chemistry and Analysis
Topic overviewOxidation and reduction of carbonyls, and the addition of HCNThe nucleophilic addition mechanism2,4-DNPH and Tollens' reagentCarboxylic acids: solubility and reactions with metals, carbonates and basesEsterification and the hydrolysis of estersAcyl chlorides and their reactions with alcohols, amines and ammoniaAmines as bases, and preparing aliphatic aminesSecondary and tertiary amines, and preparing aromatic aminesAmino acids, their reactions, and amidesOptical isomerism and identifying a chiral centreCondensation polymerisation and the ester and amide linkagesHydrolysing condensation polymers and telling them from addition polymersNitriles from haloalkanes and from carbonyl compoundsFriedel-Crafts reactions and lengthening the carbon chainThin-layer and gas chromatography, Rf values and retention timesTest-tube tests for the organic functional groupsTests for the inorganic ions and interpreting chromatograms
Spectroscopy
Topic overviewCarbon-13 and proton NMR: peaks, chemical shift and integrationSpin-spin splitting and predicting a spectrumTMS, deuterated solvents and the D₂O shakeCombining elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and NMRMolecular formula from the molecular ion, and fragmentation lossesWhat IR and NMR each contribute to a structureInfrared absorption, global warming and breathalysersA systematic approach and the degree of unsaturation
Organic Synthesis
- 5 subtopics
- 10 things to know
- Components 02 and 03
What Organic Synthesis covers
The practical and planning side: reflux, distillation, separation, drying, recrystallisation and melting point as a purity test, then devising a multi-stage route between functional groups.
Where it is assessed
Components 02 and 03
Synthesis and Analytical Techniques, then the unified paper.
Check the OCR specification ↗The 5 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Reflux, distillation and separating an organic layerRecall questions on Quickfit apparatus and the purpose of reflux, using a separating funnel and telling the layers apart, and drying with an anhydrous salt.Open →
- Purifying an organic solid and testing its purityRecall questions on recrystallisation and the principle behind it, filtration under reduced pressure, and what a melting point reveals about purity.Open →
- Planning a multi-stage synthetic routeRecall questions on identifying the functional groups present, what a multi-stage route requires, retrosynthetic analysis, and choosing between alternative routes.Open →
- Functional group interconversions and lengthening the chainRecall questions on haloalkane to amine and to nitrile, nitrile to amine and to carboxylic acid, and how HCN addition and Friedel-Crafts reactions change the carbon skeleton.Open →
- Esters, acyl chlorides, condensation polymers and racemic mixturesRecall questions on forming an ester and an acyl chloride, the products with amines and alcohols, the monomers of polyesters and polyamides, and why HCN addition gives a racemic mixture.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Numbers
Which apparatus is used for reflux and distillation, which separates an organic layer, and which two techniques purify a solid?
Key term
What physical property is measured to assess the purity of an organic solid?
Key term
What is the fundamental requirement when devising a synthetic route in organic chemistry?
Process
What is a multi-stage synthetic route, and how do HCN addition and Friedel-Crafts acylation change the carbon skeleton?
Key term
Which reaction converts benzene into a substituted aromatic compound, what forms when a carbonyl compound undergoes nucleophilic addition with HCN, and which reagent turns a carboxylic acid into an ester?
Key term
What monomers are required to form a polyamide by condensation polymerisation?
Key term
What product forms when an acyl chloride reacts with an amine?
Key term
What is produced when an acyl chloride reacts with an alcohol?
Key term
Why does nucleophilic addition of HCN to an aldehyde produce a racemic mixture?
Take Organic Synthesis further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Reflux vs Distillation
Reflux: continuous boiling and condensation without loss of volatile material. Distillation: separation by vaporisation followed by condensation and collection.
Purification vs Identification
Purification: removal of unwanted substances from a product. Identification: establishing the identity of a product.
Synthetic route vs Reaction mechanism
Synthetic route: a sequence of reactions converting a starting material into a target. Reaction mechanism: stepwise movement of electrons during a chemical reaction.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Why are modern analytical techniques important in organic chemistry?
Model answer
They are important for identifying and characterising organic compounds.
- 2
Name two examples of modern analytical techniques used in organic analysis.
Model answer
Mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy (or NMR spectroscopy).
- 3
What type of apparatus is used for distillation and heating under reflux in organic synthesis?
Model answer
Quickfit apparatus.
- 4
What is the purpose of heating under reflux using Quickfit apparatus?
Model answer
To heat a reaction mixture for an extended period without losing volatile reactants or products, as vapours condense and return to the flask.
- 5
How does Quickfit apparatus allow for efficient distillation?
Model answer
The ground-glass joints provide airtight seals between components, allowing controlled heating and collection of distillate at specific boiling points.
- 6
What piece of equipment is used to separate an organic layer from an aqueous layer?
Model answer
A separating funnel.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Organic Synthesis revision questions
- What does Organic Synthesis cover in OCR A-Level Chemistry?
- 5 subtopics: reflux, distillation and separating an organic layer, purifying an organic solid and testing its purity, planning a multi-stage synthetic route, functional group interconversions and lengthening the chain and esters, acyl chlorides, condensation polymers and racemic mixtures. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Organic Synthesis organised?
- By the OCR H432 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Organic Synthesis, 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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