Key learning outcomes (KLO) Unit C4: Organic chemistry

Note that KLO’s in Bold (Red) are for Triple Award candidates only

Organic chemistry: Introduction

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4.1 know that a hydrocarbon is a compound of hydrogen
and carbon only
4.2 understand how to represent organic molecules using
empirical formulae, molecular formulae, general formulae,
structural formulae and displayed formulae
4.3 know what is meant by the terms homologous series,
functional group and isomerism
4.4 understand how to name compounds relevant to this
specification using the rules of International Union of Pure
and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature

students will be expected to name compounds containing up

to six carbon atoms
4.5 understand how to write the possible structural and
displayed formulae of an organic molecule given its
molecular formula
4.6 understand how to classify reactions of organic
compounds as substitution, addition and combustion
knowledge of reaction mechanisms is not required

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Key learning outcomes (KLO) Unit C4: Organic chemistry

Note that KLO’s in Bold (Red) are for Triple Award candidates only

Crude oil
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4.7 know that crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons
4.8 describe how the industrial process of fractional
distillation separates crude oil into fractions
4.9 know the names and uses of the main fractions
obtained from crude oil: refinery gases, gasoline,
kerosene, diesel, fuel oil and bitumen
4.10 know the trend in colour, boiling point and viscosity
of the main fractions
4.11 know that a fuel is a substance that, when burned,
releases heat energy
4.12 know the possible products of complete and
incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons with oxygen in
the air
4.13 understand why carbon monoxide is poisonous, in
terms of its effect on the capacity of blood to transport
oxygen-references to haemoglobin are not required
4.14 know that, in car engines, the temperature reached
is high enough to allow nitrogen and oxygen from air to
react, forming oxides of nitrogen
4.15 explain how the combustion of some impurities in
hydrocarbon fuels results in the formation of sulfur
dioxide
4.16 understand how sulfur dioxide and oxides of
nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain
4.17 describe how long-chain alkanes are converted to
alkenes and shorter-chain alkanes by catalytic cracking
(using silica or alumina as the catalyst and a temperature
in the range of 600–700 ºC)
4.18 explain why cracking is necessary, in terms of the
balance between supply and demand for different
fractions

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Key learning outcomes (KLO) Unit C4: Organic chemistry

Note that KLO’s in Bold (Red) are for Triple Award candidates only

Alkanes
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4.19 know the general formula for alkanes
4.20 explain why alkanes are classified as saturated
hydrocarbons
4.21 understand how to draw the structural and displayed
formulae for alkanes with up to five carbon atoms in the
molecule, and to name the unbranched-chain isomers
4.22 describe the reactions of alkanes with halogens in
the presence of ultraviolet radiation, limited to mono-
substitution knowledge of reaction mechanisms is not
required
Alkenes
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4.23 know that alkenes contain the functional group
>C=C<
4.24 know the general formula for alkenes
4.25 explain why alkenes are classified as unsaturated
hydrocarbons
4.26 understand how to draw the structural and displayed
formulae for alkenes with up to four carbon atoms in the
molecule, and name the unbranched-chain isomers

knowledge of cis/trans or E/Z notation is not required

4.27 describe the reactions of alkenes with bromine to
produce dibromoalkanes
4.28 describe how bromine water can be used to
distinguish between an alkane and an alkene

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Key learning outcomes (KLO) Unit C4: Organic chemistry

Note that KLO’s in Bold (Red) are for Triple Award candidates only

Alcohols
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4.29C know that alcohols contain the functional
group −OH
4.30C understand how to draw structural and
displayed formulae for methanol, ethanol,
propanol (propan-1-ol only) and butanol (butan-1-
ol only), and name each compound the names
propanol and butanol are acceptable
4.31C know that ethanol can be oxidised by:
-burning in air or oxygen (complete combustion)
-reaction with oxygen in the air to form ethanoic
acid (microbial oxidation)
-heating with potassium dichromate(VI) in dilute
sulfuric acid to form ethanoic acid
4.32C know that ethanol can be manufactured by:
-reacting ethene with steam in the presence of a
phosphoric acid catalyst at a temperature of about
300 ºC and a pressure of about 60–70 atm
-the fermentation of glucose, in the absence of air,
at an optimum temperature of about 30 ºC and
using the enzymes in yeast
4.33C understand the reasons for fermentation, in
the absence of air, and at an optimum temperature
Carboxylic acids
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4.34C know that carboxylic acids contain the
functional group

4.35C understand how to draw structural and

displayed formulae for unbranched-chain
carboxylic acids with up to four carbon atoms in
the molecule, and name each compound
4.36C describe the reactions of aqueous solutions
of carboxylic acids with metals and metal
carbonates
4.37C know that vinegar is an aqueous solution
containing ethanoic acid

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Key learning outcomes (KLO) Unit C4: Organic chemistry

Note that KLO’s in Bold (Red) are for Triple Award candidates only

Esters
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4.38C know that esters contain the functional
group

4.39C know that ethyl ethanoate is the ester

produced when ethanol and ethanoic acid react in
the presence of an acid catalyst
4.40C understand how to write the structural and
displayed formulae of ethyl ethanoate
4.41C understand how to write the structural and
displayed formulae of an ester, given the name or
formula of the alcohol and carboxylic acid from
which it is formed and vice versa
4.42C know that esters are volatile compounds
with distinctive smells and are used as food
flavourings and in perfumes
4.43C practical: prepare a sample of an ester such
as ethyl ethanoate
Synthetic polymers
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4.44 know that an addition polymer is formed by joining
up many small molecules called monomers
4.45 understand how to draw the repeat unit of an
addition polymer, including: poly(ethene), poly(propene),
poly(chloroethene) and (poly)tetrafluoroethene
4.46 understand how to deduce the structure of a
monomer from the repeat unit of an addition polymer and
vice versa
4.47 explain problems in the disposal of addition
polymers, including:
-their inertness and inability to biodegrade
-the production of toxic gases when they are burned.
4.48C know that condensation polymerisation, in which
a dicarboxylic acid reacts with a diol, produces a
polyester and water
4.49C understand how to write the structural and
displayed formula of a polyester, showing the repeat
unit, given the formulae of the monomers from which it
is formed including the reaction of ethanedioic acid and
ethanediol:

4.50C know that some polyesters, known as

biopolyesters, are biodegradable