Studying the speed of reactions and the factors that influence them, such as catalysts and activation energy.
| Family | General formula | Key reactions | |--------|----------------|----------------| | Alkanes | CₙH₂ₙ₊₂ | Combustion, free radical substitution (limited) | | Alkenes | CₙH₂ₙ | Electrophilic addition, polymerisation (addition polymers) | | Alcohols | CₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH | Combustion, dehydration (→alkene), oxidation (primary→aldehyde→acid; secondary→ketone; tertiary no oxidation) | | Halogenoalkanes | CₙH₂ₙ₊₁X | Nucleophilic substitution (OH⁻, CN⁻, NH₃), elimination (strong base/heat → alkene) | | Aldehydes | RCHO | Nucleophilic addition, mild oxidation (Tollens’/Fehling’s → carboxylic acid) | | Ketones | RCOR’ | Nucleophilic addition (slower than aldehydes), no oxidation (except strong oxidisers break C–C) | | Carboxylic acids | RCOOH | Acidic (weak), esterification (with alcohol + H⁺), reduction (LiAlH₄ → primary alcohol) | | Esters | RCOOR’ | Hydrolysis (acid or base – saponification) | | Amines | RNH₂ | Basic, nucleophilic, acylation (with acyl chloride → amide) | | Acyl chlorides | RCOCl | Highly reactive – nucleophilic acyl substitution (→ acid, ester, amide, anhydride) | chemistry advanced level
The course is generally divided into three main branches, integrating both theoretical study and significant laboratory work: Studying the speed of reactions and the factors