Topic 11 of 12 · 5 modules planned

Organic chemistry

Carbon compounds: naming them, fuels from crude oil, and the families that build plastics.

Modules

Module 1 · syllabus 11.1, 11.2
Naming organic molecules
What does a name tell you about a molecule?
This module is planned. It will have readings, an experiment, practice with self-checks and a final check.

Syllabus statements for this topic · for teachers · 50 statements

Core for every pupil · Supplement also for Extended entry. Paraphrased from the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus (2026–2028); check the official syllabus for exact wording.

11.1 Formulae, functional groups and terminology

11.1.1Displayed formula: all atoms and bondsC
11.1.2General formulae: alkane, alkene, alcohol, carboxylic acidC
11.1.3Functional groups and chemical familyC
11.1.4Homologous series and shared chemistryC
11.1.5Saturated carbon chainsC
11.1.6Unsaturated carbon chainsC
11.1.7Unambiguous structural formulaeS
11.1.8Structural isomers: C₄H₁₀ and C₄H₈S
11.1.9Series features: group, formula, CH₂ step, physical trend, chemistryS

11.2 Naming organic compounds

11.2.1Core names and displayed structures, including reaction productsC
11.2.2Family recognition from suffix, formula or structureC
11.2.3Unbranched families through C4, including position namesS
11.2.4Ester names and structures from alcohol/acid pairs through C4S

11.3 Fuels

11.3.1Coal, natural gas and petroleumC
11.3.2Methane in natural gasC
11.3.3Hydrocarbon classificationC
11.3.4Petroleum as a hydrocarbon mixtureC
11.3.5Petroleum fractional distillationC
11.3.6Fraction trends: chain length, volatility, boiling, viscosityC
11.3.7Eight petroleum fractions and their usesC

11.4 Alkanes

11.4.1Alkane single bonds and saturationC
11.4.2Alkane reactivity: combustion and chlorine substitutionC
11.4.3Substitution as atom/group replacementS
11.4.4UV-initiated alkane monochlorinationS

11.5 Alkenes

11.5.1Alkene C=C and unsaturationC
11.5.2Catalytic cracking into alkenes/hydrogenC
11.5.3Why cracking is usedC
11.5.4Aqueous bromine test for unsaturationC
11.5.5Addition and one-product formationS
11.5.6Alkene additions: bromine, hydrogen/Ni, steam/acidS

11.6 Alcohols

11.6.1Ethanol routes: fermentation and ethene hydrationC
11.6.2Ethanol combustionC
11.6.3Ethanol as solvent and fuelC
11.6.4Comparing ethanol production routesS

11.7 Carboxylic acids

11.7.1Ethanoic acid with metal, base and carbonateC
11.7.2Ethanol oxidation by reagent or bacteriaS
11.7.3Acid-catalysed esterificationS

11.8 Polymers

11.8.1Monomers and large polymer moleculesC
11.8.2Ethene addition to poly(ethene)C
11.8.3Plastic materials and polymersC
11.8.4Plastic properties and disposalC
11.8.5Landfill, ocean accumulation and toxic combustion productsC
11.8.6Addition/condensation repeat units and linkagesS
11.8.7Alkene monomer ↔ addition repeat unitS
11.8.8Diacid+diamine/diol ↔ condensation polymerS
11.8.9Addition versus condensation polymerisationS
11.8.10Nylon and PET structuresS
11.8.11PET depolymerisation and re-polymerisationS
11.8.12Amino-acid monomers and natural polyamidesS
11.8.13Protein polymer structureS