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13 Jan 2026

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Exploring Chemical Synthesis Techniques - Part 1

Organic chemistry reactions might seem overwhelming at first, but they're... Show more

alkene
(room temp)
hydrogen halide
haloalkane
NaCN/ethanol
nitrile
NH3/ethanol
NaOH (aq)
refux
Primary alconor
C.H2504
reflux
hydration
H3PO

Organic Chemistry Reaction Pathways

Alkenes are your starting point for many important reactions. When you treat an alkene with a hydrogen halide at room temperature, you'll get a haloalkane - this is a straightforward addition reaction that's dead useful for creating new functional groups.

From haloalkanes, you've got loads of options. Mix with NaCN in ethanol and you'll form a nitrile. Use NH₃ in ethanol instead and you'll create an amine. Want an alcohol? NaOH in aqueous solution under reflux does the trick perfectly.

Primary alcohols are proper versatile. You can dehydrate them using concentrated H₂SO₄ under reflux to get back to alkenes. Alternatively, use H₃PO₄ with water for hydration reactions going the opposite direction.

The esterification process is crucial for A-levels. Combine a carboxylic acid with H₂SO₄ under reflux to form an ester. You can reverse this through hydrolysis using either dilute acid under reflux or NaOH under reflux for alkaline hydrolysis, which gives you the sodium salt of the carboxylic acid plus an alcohol.

Top Tip: Reflux conditions mean heating with a condenser attached - this lets you heat reactions without losing volatile substances through evaporation.

Oxidation and reduction reactions complete the picture. Use K₂Cr₂O₇ with H₂SO₄ under distillation to oxidise primary alcohols to aldehydes, or under reflux to push further to carboxylic acids. For reduction, NaBH₄ in water will convert aldehydes back to primary alcohols, whilst H₂ with Ni catalyst reduces many functional groups.



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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

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Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

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Xander S

iOS user

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Elisha

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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

 

Chemistry

502

13 Jan 2026

1 page

Exploring Chemical Synthesis Techniques - Part 1

Organic chemistry reactions might seem overwhelming at first, but they're actually just patterns you can master with practice. This flowchart shows the key transformations between different organic compounds - think of it as a roadmap for converting one molecule into... Show more

alkene
(room temp)
hydrogen halide
haloalkane
NaCN/ethanol
nitrile
NH3/ethanol
NaOH (aq)
refux
Primary alconor
C.H2504
reflux
hydration
H3PO

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Organic Chemistry Reaction Pathways

Alkenes are your starting point for many important reactions. When you treat an alkene with a hydrogen halide at room temperature, you'll get a haloalkane - this is a straightforward addition reaction that's dead useful for creating new functional groups.

From haloalkanes, you've got loads of options. Mix with NaCN in ethanol and you'll form a nitrile. Use NH₃ in ethanol instead and you'll create an amine. Want an alcohol? NaOH in aqueous solution under reflux does the trick perfectly.

Primary alcohols are proper versatile. You can dehydrate them using concentrated H₂SO₄ under reflux to get back to alkenes. Alternatively, use H₃PO₄ with water for hydration reactions going the opposite direction.

The esterification process is crucial for A-levels. Combine a carboxylic acid with H₂SO₄ under reflux to form an ester. You can reverse this through hydrolysis using either dilute acid under reflux or NaOH under reflux for alkaline hydrolysis, which gives you the sodium salt of the carboxylic acid plus an alcohol.

Top Tip: Reflux conditions mean heating with a condenser attached - this lets you heat reactions without losing volatile substances through evaporation.

Oxidation and reduction reactions complete the picture. Use K₂Cr₂O₇ with H₂SO₄ under distillation to oxidise primary alcohols to aldehydes, or under reflux to push further to carboxylic acids. For reduction, NaBH₄ in water will convert aldehydes back to primary alcohols, whilst H₂ with Ni catalyst reduces many functional groups.

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user