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AS 2 Further Physical and Inorganic Chemistry and an Introduction to Organic Chemistry

7 dot points across 7 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How are alcohols made and what reactions do they undergo?

The classification of alcohols as primary, secondary and tertiary, their production by hydration of alkenes and by fermentation, and their reactions including combustion, oxidation, dehydration and ester formation.
A CCEA A-Level Chemistry answer on alcohols, covering their classification as primary, secondary and tertiary, their production by hydration of alkenes and by fermentation, and their reactions including combustion, oxidation to aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids, dehydration to alkenes and ester formation.
9 min answer →

How do alkanes, alkenes and haloalkanes react, and by what mechanisms?

Alkanes as fuels and free-radical substitution, the reactions of alkenes including electrophilic addition and Markownikoff's rule, addition polymerisation, and the nucleophilic substitution and elimination reactions of haloalkanes.
A CCEA A-Level Chemistry answer on alkanes, alkenes and haloalkanes, covering alkanes as fuels and free-radical substitution, electrophilic addition to alkenes and Markownikoff's rule, addition polymerisation, and the nucleophilic substitution and elimination reactions of haloalkanes.
10 min answer →

How do reactivity and properties change down Group II and Group VII?

Trends in reactivity, melting point, solubility and thermal stability down Group II, the reactions of Group II metals and compounds, the trends in Group VII including colour, volatility and oxidising power, displacement reactions and tests for halide ions.
A CCEA A-Level Chemistry answer on Group II and Group VII, covering the trends in reactivity and solubility down Group II and the reactions of its compounds, and the trends in colour, volatility and oxidising power down Group VII, halogen displacement reactions and the tests for halide ions.
9 min answer →

How do infrared and mass spectra help identify organic molecules?

Infrared spectroscopy and the absorptions of bonds and functional groups, the fingerprint region, mass spectrometry of organic molecules including the molecular ion and fragmentation, and the use of both to identify and determine the structure of compounds.
A CCEA A-Level Chemistry answer on infrared and mass spectrometry, covering how infrared absorptions identify bonds and functional groups, the fingerprint region, the molecular ion and fragmentation in mass spectra, and how both techniques are combined to determine the structure of organic compounds.
8 min answer →

How are organic compounds named and how do isomers arise?

IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds, functional groups and homologous series, general, structural, displayed and skeletal formulae, and structural isomerism including chain, position and functional group isomers.
A CCEA A-Level Chemistry answer on organic nomenclature and isomerism, covering IUPAC naming, functional groups and homologous series, the types of formulae used in organic chemistry, and structural isomerism including chain, position and functional group isomers.
8 min answer →

How do properties change across a period, and why?

Periodicity of atomic radius, ionisation energy and melting point across Period 3, the structures and bonding of the Period 3 elements and oxides, and the trends in the acid-base character of the oxides.
A CCEA A-Level Chemistry answer on periodicity, covering the trends in atomic radius, ionisation energy and melting point across Period 3, the structures and bonding of the Period 3 elements, and the trend from basic to acidic character in the Period 3 oxides.
8 min answer →

How do we identify ions and gases by their characteristic reactions?

Tests for cations and anions including carbonate, sulfate, halide, ammonium and hydroxide, tests for common gases, flame tests, and the chemistry behind each observation.
A CCEA A-Level Chemistry answer on qualitative analysis, covering the tests for carbonate, sulfate, halide, ammonium and hydroxide ions, the tests for common gases, flame tests, and the observations and chemistry behind each identification.
8 min answer →