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NSWChemistryQuick questions
Module 7: Organic Chemistry
Quick questions on Organic reaction pathways and retrosynthesis explained: HSC Chemistry Module 7
9short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the most common one-step reaction that produces this functional group?Show answer
3. What is the precursor (the synthon) for that step? 4.
What are count the carbons?Show answer
The target and starting material must have compatible carbon skeletons. HSC does not include carbon-skeleton-changing reactions (no bond formation), so the carbon count is preserved through every step.
What is check the oxidation level?Show answer
Alkane and alkene are at the same level for the carbon involved. Alcohol is one step up. Aldehyde and ketone are another step.
What is identify the limiting step?Show answer
Markovnikov hydration always gives the more substituted alcohol. To get the less substituted alcohol, use a haloalkane route (HBr addition followed by hydrolysis) or accept the Markovnikov product and work from there.
What is use reflux when stated?Show answer
Esterification, oxidation to acid, hydrolysis, and base hydrolysis all require reflux. Distillation only is for collecting an aldehyde or separating an ester after the reaction.
What is markovnikov going the wrong way?Show answer
Hydration of propene gives propan-2-ol (Markovnikov), not propan-1-ol. State the regiochemistry explicitly.
What is q1?Show answer
Identify the reagent and condition required for each one-step conversion: (a) ethene to ethanol; (b) ethanol to ethanal; (c) ethanal to ethanoic acid. [3 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Plan a synthesis of propanoic acid starting from propan-1-ol. Calculate the mass of propanoic acid that could theoretically be made from 30.0 g of propan-1-ol. [3 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Plan a multi-step synthesis of methyl propanoate from propan-1-ol and methanol. (a) Draw the flowchart with intermediate. (b) State the reagent and condition for each step.