Candidates should be able to:
Alcohols
(a) recall the chemistry of alcohols, exemplified by ethanol:
(i) combustion
(ii) substitution to give halogenoalkanes
(iii) reaction with sodium
(iv) oxidation to carbonyl compounds and carboxylic acids
(v) dehydration to alkenes
(vi) formation of esters by esterification with carboxylic acids
(b) (i) classify hydroxy compounds into primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols
(ii) suggest characteristic distinguishing reactions, e.g. mild oxidation
Candidates should be able to:
Esters
(a) describe
(i) the formation of aldehydes and ketones from primary and secondary alcohols respectively using Cr2O7/H+
(ii) the reduction of aldehydes and ketones e.g. using NaBH4 or LiAlH4
(iii) the reaction of aldehydes and ketones with HCN and NaCN
(b) *describe the mechanism of the nucleophilic addition reactions of hydrogen cyanide with aldehydes and ketones
(c) describe the use of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) reagent to detect the presence of carbonyl compounds
(d) deduce the nature (aldehyde or ketone) of an unknown carbonyl compound from the results of simple tests (i.e. Fehling’s and Tollens’ reagents; ease of oxidation)
Alcohols
(a) recall the chemistry of alcohols, exemplified by ethanol:
(i) combustion
(ii) substitution to give halogenoalkanes
(iii) reaction with sodium
(iv) oxidation to carbonyl compounds and carboxylic acids
(v) dehydration to alkenes
(vi) formation of esters by esterification with carboxylic acids
(b) (i) classify hydroxy compounds into primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols
(ii) suggest characteristic distinguishing reactions, e.g. mild oxidation
Candidates should be able to:
Esters
(a) describe
(i) the formation of aldehydes and ketones from primary and secondary alcohols respectively using Cr2O7/H+
(ii) the reduction of aldehydes and ketones e.g. using NaBH4 or LiAlH4
(iii) the reaction of aldehydes and ketones with HCN and NaCN
(b) *describe the mechanism of the nucleophilic addition reactions of hydrogen cyanide with aldehydes and ketones
(c) describe the use of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) reagent to detect the presence of carbonyl compounds
(d) deduce the nature (aldehyde or ketone) of an unknown carbonyl compound from the results of simple tests (i.e. Fehling’s and Tollens’ reagents; ease of oxidation)