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Edexcel ·Chemistry·Cambridge AS & A Level Chemistry

Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons (Alkanes & Alkenes)

17 min read

Nomenclature and isomerism, alkanes and free-radical substitution, alkenes and electrophilic addition with Markovnikov's rule, and addition polymerisation.

Nomenclature and isomerism

Organic names use a stem (number of carbons: meth, eth, prop, but, pent…) plus a suffix for the functional group (-ane, -ene, -ol, -al, -one, -oic acid). Structural isomers share a molecular formula but differ in structure (chain, position, functional group). Alkenes also show cis–trans (E/Z) isomerism because the C=C bond cannot rotate.

Homolytic fission gives two radicals (one electron each, shown by a single-headed "fish-hook" arrow); heterolytic fission gives ions (a curly double-headed arrow shows movement of an electron pair).

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