§-Module

Module 7: Organic Chemistry

10 dot points across 8 inquiry questions, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers where available.

Inquiry Question 1: How do we systematically name organic compounds?

Apply IUPAC rules to name and represent the structural formula of organic compounds including alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, and amines

IUPAC nomenclature. The five step naming algorithm, suffix and prefix rules for each homologous series, locant numbering rules, and worked HSC past exam questions.

11 min read →

Inquiry Question 2: How are hydrocarbons classified and what do their reactions reveal about their structure?

Investigate the industrial sourcing and separation of hydrocarbons, including fractional distillation of petroleum, catalytic and thermal cracking of larger fractions, and the production of biofuels as an alternative source of hydrocarbon-derived fuels

Sourcing and separating hydrocarbons. Fractional distillation of crude oil by boiling point, catalytic and thermal cracking to convert long-chain alkanes into shorter alkanes and alkenes, biofuels (bioethanol, biodiesel) as alternative sources, and worked HSC-style calculations and data questions.

11 min read →

Investigate the structural formulae, properties and reactions of alkanes, alkenes and alkynes, including combustion and addition reactions of alkenes

Hydrocarbons. Comparing alkanes, alkenes and alkynes by structure and reactivity, combustion equations, addition reactions of alkenes with halogens, hydrogen halides and water, and worked HSC past exam questions.

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Inquiry Question 3: How do alcohols form, react, and how does their structure affect their properties?

Investigate the structural formulae, properties, classification (primary, secondary, tertiary), oxidation reactions and production by hydration of alkenes for alcohols up to C8

Alcohols. Classifying primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, the oxidation pathway with acidified dichromate or permanganate, hydration of alkenes to form alcohols, and worked HSC past exam questions.

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Inquiry Question 4: How do carbonyl-containing compounds form, behave and how can they be distinguished?

Investigate the structural formulae, properties and reactions of aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids, including their formation by oxidation of alcohols and chemical tests that distinguish them

Carbonyl compounds. The oxidation pathway from alcohols, the Tollens and Fehling/Benedict tests that distinguish aldehydes from ketones, acidity of carboxylic acids, and worked HSC past exam questions.

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Inquiry Question 5: How are esters formed, what are their properties, and how are they used?

Explain the structure of soaps and detergents, their formation by saponification (base hydrolysis of an ester) or by sulfonation, and how the hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends of the molecule give rise to the cleaning action of a micelle

Soaps and detergents. The saponification reaction that converts a triglyceride ester into soap and glycerol, the hydrophilic carboxylate head and hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail, how micelles trap grease during cleaning, soap versus synthetic detergent in hard water, and worked HSC-style questions.

12 min read →

Investigate the structural formulae, properties, applications, formation by esterification, and hydrolysis (including saponification) of esters

Esters. Naming as alkyl alkanoates, the equilibrium esterification with concentrated H2SO4 catalyst, acid and base hydrolysis (saponification), applications as flavours, fragrances and biodiesel, and worked HSC past exam questions.

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Inquiry Question 6: How do amines and amides form, and how do their properties differ from other organic compounds?

Investigate the structural formulae, classification, properties and formation of amines and amides

Amines and amides. Classifying primary, secondary, tertiary amines, the basicity of amines, formation of amides by condensation of an amine with a carboxylic acid, and worked HSC past exam questions.

10 min read →

Inquiry Question 7: How are addition and condensation polymers made and how do their structures determine their uses?

Investigate the structural formulae, properties, formation and uses of addition polymers (polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene) and condensation polymers (nylon, polyester)

Polymers. The addition polymerisation of alkenes to make polyethylene, PVC, polystyrene and PTFE, the condensation polymerisation of diacid plus diamine (nylon) and diacid plus diol (polyester), structure-property relationships, and worked HSC past exam questions.

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Inquiry Question 8: How can we plan a multi-step synthesis to convert one organic compound to another?

Construct reaction pathways linking the functional groups studied in Module 7 and apply retrosynthesis logic to plan multi-step syntheses, including reagents and conditions for each step

Reaction pathways. The master synthesis tree connecting alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters and amides; reagents and conditions for each step; retrosynthesis logic working backwards from a target; and worked HSC past exam questions.

12 min read →