GCSE Chemistry — Organic Chemistry, Polymers, and Analysis

Led by August Kekulé

Module 12 of Edexcel GCSE Chemistry — the largest module in the course at 39 spec points. Led by August Kekulé, who in 1865 dreamed of a snake biting its tail and woke with the structure of benzene. The student covers ion identification by flame and precipitate tests, hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes), addition and condensation polymers, alcohols and carboxylic acids, fermentation, and nanoparticles, including Core Practicals 9.6C and 9.28C.

1. Module 12

   Organic Chemistry, Polymers, and Analysis

   Led by August Kekulé

   The question

   How does a chemist identify the ions in an unknown salt, draw the structures of the spec's required hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing organic molecules, account for the chemistry of polymers (both addition from alkenes and condensation polyesters), explain the production and properties of alcohols and carboxylic acids including the fermentation route, and account for the distinctive properties of nanoparticles by their surface-area-to-volume ratio? The spec asks the student to perform flame and precipitate tests, draw all spec-required organic structures, write addition and condensation polymerisation reactions, evaluate polymer disposal and recycling, account for natural polymers, execute Core Practicals 9.6C and 9.28C, and account for nanoparticle behaviour.

   Outcome

   the student can identify ions by all required tests, execute Core Practical 9.6C, account for instrumental analysis advantages, draw and react alkanes and alkenes including the bromine-water test, write addition and condensation polymerisation reactions and deduce monomer from polymer, evaluate polymer disposal and recycling, account for natural polymers, account for the chemistry of alcohols and carboxylic acids, execute Core Practical 9.28C, describe fermentation and concentration, and account for nanoparticle behaviour by surface-area-to-volume ratio. *(Edexcel 1CH0 Paper 2 — Topic 9, spec points 9.1C–9.36C — all Higher tier, Separate-Chemistry only)*

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 12.1 Qualitative analysis: flame tests and NaOH precipitate tests Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 12.2 Anion tests; Core Practical 9.6C Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 12.3 Instrumental analysis and the flame photometer Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 12.4 Alkanes and alkenes; the bromine water test Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 12.5 Addition polymers: poly(ethene), poly(propene), PVC, PTFE Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   6. ○ 12.6 Condensation polymers: polyesters; natural polymers Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   7. ○ 12.7 Polymer disposal, recycling, and environmental impact Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   8. ○ 12.8 Alcohols and Core Practical 9.28C Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   9. ○ 12.9 Carboxylic acids; the homologous-series principle Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   10. ○ 12.10 Fermentation and concentration by fractional distillation Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   11. ○ 12.11 Nanoparticles: size, surface-area-to-volume, and sunscreens Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Begin the course → Print certificate of completion