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Tricks for remembering the names of organic molecules

A good way to remember the names of organic molecules is to make up a silly mnemonic where the first letter of each word matches the first letter of the organic molecules. For example the first 10 alkanes in order are , Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane, Pentane, Hexane, Heptane, Octane, Nonane and Decane. These can be memorised with “Many elephants prefer blue pinapples. However hungry orangutans never do.” This isn’t a very good mnemonic, but it is the one I made up for myself when I was at school, and you are best making up your own. The sillier, smellier and more colourful the better.

1:16a know what is meant by the terms atomic number, mass number and relative atomic mass (Aᵣ)

Atomic number: The number of protons in an atom.

Mass number: The number of protons and neutrons in an atom.

Relative atomic mass (Ar): The average mass of an atom compared to 1/12th the mass of carbon-12.

1:31a understand how the formulae of simple compounds can be obtained experimentally, including metal oxides

Finding the formula of a metal oxide experimentally

The formulae of metal oxides can be found experimentally by reacting a metal with oxygen and recording the mass changes.

Example: When magnesium is burned in air, it reacts with oxygen (O2) to form magnesium oxide (MgO).

Method:
• Weigh a crucible and lid
• Place the magnesium ribbon in the crucible, replace the lid, and reweigh
• Calculate the mass of magnesium
   (mass of crucible + lid + Magnesium – mass of crucible + lid)
• Heat the crucible with lid on until the magnesium burns
   (lid prevents magnesium oxide escaping therefore ensuring accurate results)
• Lift the lid from time to time (this allows air to enter)
• Stop heating when there is no sign of further reaction
   (this ensures all Mg has reacted)
• Allow to cool and reweigh
• Repeat the heating , cooling and reweigh until two consecutive masses are the same
   (this ensures all Mg has reacted and therefore the results will be accurate)
• Calculate the mass of magnesium oxide formed (mass of crucible + lid + Magnesium oxide – mass of crucible + lid)

Empirical formulae and Molecular formulae – Tyler de Witt video

In this video, the lovely Tyler de Witt explains Empirical Formulae and Molecular formulae.

(Please excuse the horrid error right at the start where the video shows a diagram of prop-2-ene, but it is labelled ‘ethene’ by mistake.)

This second video then explains how, if given an empirical formula and a molecular mass, you can calculate the molecular formula:

Concentration (molarity) practice problems – Tyler de Witt video

Here is a video to help you with concentration calculations. In Chemistry, concentration is know as molarity (i.e. the amount per volume).

Note that in the video, the lovely Tyler de Witt uses the unit “liter” for volume, but the correct international unit (as used by UK exam boards) is decimeters cubed (dm3) which is the same thing as Tyler’s “liter”.

and a follow up video with some more examples:

2019-02-10T14:51:45+00:00Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |

In an ion, the number of protons does not equal the number of electrons – Tyler de Witt video

In an electrically neutral ATOM, the number of electrons equals the number of protons.

However, an ION is an atom (or group of atoms) which has either gained or lost some electrons, so for an ION the number of electrons does not equal the number of protons.

This excellent Tyler de Witt video explains this clearly:

2019-02-10T14:04:01+00:00Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |

1:38a understand how to use the charges of these ions in ionic formulae: metals in Groups 1, 2 and 3, non-metals in Groups 5, 6 and 7, Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, hydrogen (H⁺), hydroxide (OH⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), carbonate (CO₃²⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻), sulfate (SO₄²⁻)

When given this information of the following ions, it is possible to work out the formulae of ionic compounds which include these ions.

Name of IonFormulaCharge
SulfateSO42--2
CarbonateCO32--2
NitrateNO3--1
HydroxideOH--1
AmmoniumNH4++1
Silver ionAg++1
Zinc ionZn2++2
Hydrogen ionH++1
Copper (II) ionCu2++2
Iron (II) ionFe2++2
Iron (III) ionFe3++3
Lead (II) ionPb2++2

Ion charges on the periodic table

Select a set of flashcards to study:

     Terminology

     Skills and equipment

     Remove Flashcards

Section 1: Principles of chemistry

      a) States of matter

      b) Atoms

      c) Atomic structure

     d) Relative formula masses and molar volumes of gases

     e) Chemical formulae and chemical equations

     f) Ionic compounds

     g) Covalent substances

     h) Metallic crystals

     i) Electrolysis

 Section 2: Chemistry of the elements

     a) The Periodic Table

     b) Group 1 elements: lithium, sodium and potassium

     c) Group 7 elements: chlorine, bromine and iodine

     d) Oxygen and oxides

     e) Hydrogen and water

     f) Reactivity series

     g) Tests for ions and gases

Section 3: Organic chemistry

     a) Introduction

     b) Alkanes

     c) Alkenes

     d) Ethanol

Section 4: Physical chemistry

     a) Acids, alkalis and salts

     b) Energetics

     c) Rates of reaction

     d) Equilibria

Section 5: Chemistry in industry

     a) Extraction and uses of metals

     b) Crude oil

     c) Synthetic polymers

     d) The industrial manufacture of chemicals

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