S3.2 Organic Chemistry: Functional Groups
Learning Objectives
3.2.1: Formulas in Organic Chemistry:
Recognize and represent organic compounds using molecular, empirical, full structural, condensed structural, and skeletal formulas, and explain the concept of catenation as a basis for organic diversity.
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3.2.2: Functional Groups:
Identify and classify functional groups in organic molecules and relate their presence to the compound’s class, naming, reactivity, and physical properties.
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3.2.3 & 3.2.4: Homologous Series and Physical Trends:
Describe the characteristics of homologous series and explain how physical properties such as boiling point and solubility vary across the series due to increasing molecular size and intermolecular forces.
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3.2.5: Naming Organic Molecules (Nomenclature):
Apply IUPAC nomenclature rules to name organic compounds based on functional groups, substituents, and chain length, using correct priorities, numbering, and punctuation.
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3.2.6: Structural Isomerism:
Define and distinguish between chain, positional, and functional isomers and predict structural variations that arise from the same molecular formula.
Higher Level
3.2.7: Stereoisomerism (HL):
Describe configurational and conformational stereoisomerism, including cis–trans and optical isomerism, and identify conditions under which they occur in alkenes and chiral molecules.
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3.2.8: Mass Spectrometry in Organic Chemistry (HL):
Interpret mass spectra of organic compounds to identify molecular ion peaks and common fragment ions and deduce possible structures based on fragmentation patterns.
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3.2.9: Infrared Spectroscopy (HL):
Analyze IR spectra to identify the presence of specific functional groups based on characteristic absorption bands and match peaks to bond types using the data booklet.
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3.2.10 & 3.2.11: ¹H NMR Spectroscopy (HL):
Interpret low- and high-resolution ¹H NMR spectra to determine the number of hydrogen environments, their relative abundances, and the number of neighboring protons using chemical shift, integration, and splitting patterns.