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Year 11 - Science

Chemical tests involving alkanes, alkenes and alcohols

Organic chemistry

Unit Summary

This unit covers identifying functional groups, naming and drawing structural formulae, and predicting reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, and carboxylic acids. It explains addition and condensation polymerisation and discusses natural polymers like DNA, sugars, and amino acids.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use data to identify the functional group and predict the chain length for an alkane, alkene or alcohol.

Key Notes

  • A chemical test can identify the differences between alkanes and alkenes.
  • Data from calorimetry and viscosity experiments can be used to predict the chain length of alkanes, alkenes & alcohols.
  • As chain length increases, more energy is released during combustion.
  • As chain length increases, the viscosity of alkanes, alkenes and alcohols increases.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • homologous series: A homologous series of organic compounds have the same general formula, and show similar chemical properties and physical property trends.
  • functional group: The functional group is the atom or group of atoms responsible for the way a compound reacts.
  • calorimetry: Calorimetry is an experiment that can be used to measure the energy released from a fuel.
  • viscosity: Viscosity is how easily a liquid flows. The higher the viscosity, the less easily a liquid flows.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Describing the colour change of bromine water with an alkene from orange to clear.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

A chemical test can identify the differences between alkanes and alkenes. Data from calorimetry and viscosity experiments can be used to predict the chain length of alkanes, alkenes & alcohols.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'homologous series'

A homologous series of organic compounds have the same general formula, and show similar chemical properties and physical property trends. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Describing the colour change of bromine water with an alkene from orange to clear. Correction: Coloured solutions can be clear if you can see through them. Colourless means it has no colour. Bromine water in the presence of an alkene changes from orange to colourless.

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