Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science Single Award 9: Chemistry: Organic chemistry

Study guide

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science Single Award 4SS0 notes on chemistry: organic chemistry.

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Topic 4 introduces hydrocarbons, fuels, alkanes, alkenes and addition polymers. These notes follow only the Science Single Award points in Pearson 4SS0 Issue 4. Fractional-distillation mechanisms, cracking, alkene addition reactions beyond the bromine test, alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters and condensation polymers belong to broader routes and are excluded.

Representing organic molecules

A hydrocarbon contains hydrogen and carbon only. A molecular formula gives the number of each type of atom, a general formula describes a homologous series, a structural formula shows the order of groups, and a displayed formula shows every atom and covalent bond.

For example, propane has molecular formula CX3HX8\ce{C3H8}

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Sources

  1. Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science Single Award 4SS0 specification