Chemistry May Newsletter

This month, 9 graders  will start learning about Organic chemistry   

This unit starts by introducing different types and uses of fossil fuels. The process of fractional distillation of crude oil is discussed with its importance as the main source of organic molecules. There is an opportunity for learners to research and explore the vast variety of everyday products that originate from crude oil. The unit then considers simple hydrocarbons limited to alkanes and alkenes. This unit is cross-referenced to assessment objectives A1–5, B1–5, C1–3 and Units 2 and 7.

These are the main topics we will cover for IGCSE combined science

•   Fuels Recall coal, natural gas and petroleum as fossil fuels that produce carbon dioxide on combustion
•   Describe petroleum as a mixture of hydrocarbons and its separation into useful fractions by fractional distillation
•  Understand the essential principle of fractional distillation in terms of differing boiling points
•   Describe the properties of alkanes
•   Name, identify and draw the structures of methane, ethane and ethene
•  Recognize alkanes and alkenes from their chemical names or from molecular structure
•   Describe the manufacture of alkenes by cracking
•  Distinguish between alkanes and alkenes by the addition reaction of alkenes with bromine