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VICChemistryQuick questions
Unit 4: How are carbon-based compounds designed for purpose?
Quick questions on Organic reactions and reaction pathways: VCE Chemistry Unit 4
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 multi-step pathway design?Show answer
The classic alkane-to-ester pathway is:
What is 1. Substitution?Show answer
One atom or group on a saturated carbon is replaced by another. The skeleton stays the same.
What is 2. Addition?Show answer
Two atoms or groups add across C=C or C triple C, converting the molecule from unsaturated to (more) saturated.
What is 3. Oxidation?Show answer
Acidified K2Cr2O7 / H2SO4 (or KMnO4 / H2SO4) under reflux.
What is 4. Condensation?Show answer
Two small molecules combine into a larger molecule with loss of a small molecule (usually water). The key example is esterification:
What is 5. Hydrolysis?Show answer
Adding water (often with acid or base catalyst) cleaves an ester or amide bond back to the carboxylic acid + alcohol (or carboxylic acid + amine).
What is q1?Show answer
Write the reaction and state the type for: (a) ethene reacting with bromine; (b) ethanol with acidified potassium dichromate. [3 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Calculate the mass of ethyl ethanoate produced from of ethanol reacting with excess ethanoic acid, assuming yield. [4 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Design a 3-step pathway to convert ethane to ethyl ethanoate. (a) State each step's reagents and conditions. (b) Write each balanced equation.