A-Level Chemistry Specification

OCR B H433

Section WM: What’s in a medicine?

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#WM(a)

the formulae of the following homologous series: carboxylic acids, phenols, acid anhydrides, esters, aldehydes, ketones, ethers

See also PL(k).

#WM(b)

primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols in terms of the differences in structures

#WM(c)

the following properties of phenols:

(i) acidic nature, and their reaction with alkalis but not carbonates (whereas carboxylic acids react with alkalis and carbonates)
(ii) test with neutral iron(III) chloride solution, to give a purple colouration
(iii) reaction with acid anhydrides (but not carboxylic acids) to form esters

See also CD(f).

#WM(d)

the following reactions of alcohols and two-step syntheses involving these reactions and other organic reactions in the specification:

(i) with carboxylic acids, in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid or concentrated hydrochloric acid (or with acid anhydrides) to form esters
(ii) oxidation to carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) and carboxylic acids with acidified dichromate(VI) solution, including the importance of the condition (reflux or distillation) under which it is done
(iii) dehydration to form alkenes using heated Al2O3 or refluxing with concentrated H2SO4
(iv) substitution reactions to make haloalkanes

See also CD(f).

#WM(e)

techniques and procedures for making a solid organic product and for purifying it using filtration under reduced pressure and re-crystallisation (including choice of solvent and how impurities are removed);
techniques and procedures for melting point determination and thin layer chromatography

#WM(f)

techniques and procedures for preparing and purifying a liquid organic product including the use of a separating funnel and of Quickfit or reduced scale apparatus for distillation and heating under reflux

#WM(g)

the principles of green chemistry in industrial processes

Learners should be able to make suggestions based on (but not to quote verbatim) the 12 ‘principles of green chemistry’. Learners will be expected to analyse and use given information.
See also EL(b), ES(a)

#WM(h)

the term elimination reaction

Example: alkenes from alcohols.

#WM(i)

interpretation and prediction of mass spectra:

(i) the M+ peak and the molecular mass
(ii) that other peaks are due to positive ions from fragments
(iii) the M+1 peak being caused by the presence of 13C

Calculations based on M+1 peak will not be required.
See also PL(r).

#WM(j)

the effect of specific frequencies of infrared radiation making specific bonds in organic molecules vibrate (more);
interpretation and prediction of infrared spectra for organic compounds, in terms of the functional group(s) present

IR absorptions will be given on the Data Sheet.