Organic Chemistry Notes for Senior 3: Hydrocarbons, Petroleum and Polymers

These Senior 3 chemistry notes introduce organic chemistry. They explain why carbon forms so many compounds and define hydrocarbons and homologous series. The notes cover alkanes, using methane to show how they occur, burn and are used. They also explain how crude oil is separated by fractional distillation, list the uses of each fraction and describe the pollution these fuels cause. Thermal, steam and catalytic cracking are explained. Ethene is used as the example alkene: how it is made in the lab, its properties, and the bromine and manganate(VII) tests. The notes then cover addition and condensation polymerisation, natural and synthetic polymers, and vulcanised rubber. Practice and trial questions are included throughout.