KEAM Organic Chemistry Syllabus

Organic Chemistry syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Organic Chemistry in KEAM, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry

   3 topics

   • Basic Principles and Techniques
     • IUPAC nomenclature and isomerism
     • Electronic effects: inductive, resonance, hyperconjugation
     • Reaction intermediates and mechanism types
   • Purification and Characterisation
     • Methods of purification
     • Qualitative and quantitative analysis
   • Hydrocarbons
     • Alkanes and conformations
     • Alkenes and alkynes
     • Aromatic hydrocarbons and electrophilic substitution
2. 2

   Halogen and Oxygen Functional Groups

   3 topics

   • Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
     • Nucleophilic substitution (SN1, SN2)
     • Elimination reactions
     • Polyhalogen compounds
   • Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
     • Preparation and properties of alcohols
     • Acidity of phenols and reactions
     • Ethers and Williamson synthesis
   • Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
     • Nucleophilic addition reactions
     • Aldol and Cannizzaro reactions
     • Acidity and derivatives of carboxylic acids
3. 3

   Nitrogen Compounds, Biomolecules and Applications

   4 topics

   • Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen
     • Classification and basicity of amines
     • Diazonium salts and reactions
     • Cyanides and isocyanides
   • Biomolecules
     • Carbohydrates and their classification
     • Proteins, enzymes and vitamins
     • Nucleic acids and hormones
   • Polymers
     • Classification and types of polymerisation
     • Important natural and synthetic polymers
   • Chemistry in Everyday Life
     • Drugs and their classification
     • Chemicals in food and cleansing agents

Organic Chemistry flashcards for KEAM

25 of 51 cards from the Organic Chemistry deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the inductive effect (-I and +I) in organic chemistry?

   The permanent polarization of a sigma bond due to electronegativity differences, transmitted along a carbon chain. -I groups (e.g., -NO2, -CN, halogens) withdraw electrons; +I groups (e.g., alkyl groups) donate electrons. It weakens with distance.

2. Define resonance (mesomeric) effect and distinguish +M from -M groups.

   Delocalization of pi/lone-pair electrons through conjugation. +M groups donate electrons into the system (e.g., -OH, -NH2, -OR, halogens); -M groups withdraw electrons (e.g., -NO2, -CHO, -COOH, -CN).

3. What is hyperconjugation and why does it stabilize carbocations?

   Delocalization of sigma (C-H) bond electrons into an adjacent empty p-orbital or pi system. More alpha C-H bonds give greater stabilization, so the order of carbocation stability is 3° > 2° > 1° > methyl.

4. What is the order of stability of carbocations, free radicals, and carbanions?

   Carbocations: 3° > 2° > 1° > methyl. Free radicals: 3° > 2° > 1° > methyl. Carbanions: methyl > 1° > 2° > 3° (reverse order).

5. Distinguish electrophiles from nucleophiles.

   Electrophiles are electron-deficient, electron-pair acceptors (e.g., H+, NO2+, carbocations). Nucleophiles are electron-rich, electron-pair donors (e.g., OH-, CN-, NH3, H2O).

6. What is the difference between homolytic and heterolytic bond fission?

   Homolytic fission gives each atom one electron, forming free radicals (uses single-barbed arrows). Heterolytic fission gives both electrons to one atom, forming ions/carbocation and carbanion (uses double-barbed arrows).

7. State Markovnikov's rule and its mechanistic basis.

   In the addition of HX to an unsymmetrical alkene, the H attaches to the carbon with more hydrogens and X to the carbon with fewer hydrogens. This is because it proceeds via the more stable carbocation intermediate.

8. What is the anti-Markovnikov (Kharasch/peroxide) effect?

   Addition of HBr to alkenes in the presence of peroxides gives anti-Markovnikov product (Br on carbon with more H) via a free-radical mechanism. Only HBr shows this effect, not HCl or HI.

9. Name the techniques used to purify solids vs liquids based on their property.

   Solids: crystallisation, sublimation. Liquids: simple/fractional/steam/vacuum distillation. Mixtures: chromatography, differential extraction (solvent extraction).

10. What is the principle of fractional distillation and when is it used?

    It separates two or more miscible liquids whose boiling points are close (difference less than about 25 K). A fractionating column provides repeated vaporisation-condensation cycles. Used to refine petroleum and separate crude oil fractions.

11. When is steam distillation used and what is its principle?

    Used to purify liquids that are steam-volatile and immiscible with water (e.g., aniline). The liquid distils below 100°C because the total vapour pressure equals atmospheric pressure when the sum of the two partial pressures equals it.

12. Differentiate Rf value definition in chromatography.

    Rf (retardation factor) = distance travelled by component / distance travelled by solvent front. Each compound has a characteristic Rf under fixed conditions; it always lies between 0 and 1.

13. How is nitrogen detected and estimated qualitatively by Lassaigne's test?

    Sodium fusion converts N to NaCN. Adding FeSO4 then forms sodium hexacyanoferrate, which with Fe3+ gives Prussian blue (Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3), confirming nitrogen.

14. How are halogens detected in an organic compound (Beilstein/silver nitrate test)?

    Sodium fusion extract is acidified with dilute HNO3 and treated with AgNO3: white ppt (soluble in NH3) = Cl, pale yellow (sparingly soluble) = Br, yellow (insoluble in NH3) = I.

15. State Kjeldahl's method for nitrogen estimation principle.

    Organic compound is heated with conc. H2SO4 converting N to (NH4)2SO4. NH3 liberated by NaOH is absorbed in a known excess of standard acid; back-titration gives the % nitrogen. Not applicable to N in rings or nitro/azo compounds.

16. Give the general formulas of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.

    Alkanes: CnH2n+2 (saturated). Alkenes: CnH2n (one C=C). Alkynes: CnH2n-2 (one C≡C).

17. What is Wurtz reaction and its product?

    Alkyl halides react with sodium metal in dry ether to give symmetrical alkanes with double the carbon number: 2 R-X + 2Na → R-R + 2NaX. Used to prepare higher alkanes.

18. What are the products of complete vs incomplete combustion of alkanes?

    Complete combustion (excess O2) gives CO2 + H2O. Incomplete combustion (limited O2) gives CO or carbon (soot) + H2O.

19. What is the mechanism of halogenation of alkanes and the reactivity order of halogens?

    Free-radical substitution with three steps: initiation, propagation, termination. Reactivity order of halogens: F2 > Cl2 > Br2 > I2 (F too violent, I practically inert).

20. How is benzene's structure explained and what is its molecular formula?

    Benzene (C6H6) is a planar regular hexagon with all C-C bonds equal (139 pm) due to delocalisation of six pi electrons. It satisfies Hückel's rule (4n+2 = 6 pi electrons) and is aromatic.

21. What is Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation?

    Electrophilic aromatic substitutions using anhydrous AlCl3 (Lewis acid). Alkylation introduces an alkyl group (R-X), acylation introduces an acyl group (RCOCl) to give aromatic ketones.

22. Classify substituents as ortho/para vs meta directors in benzene.

    Ortho/para directors (mostly activating): -OH, -NH2, -OR, -CH3, halogens (halogens are deactivating but o/p directing). Meta directors (deactivating): -NO2, -COOH, -CHO, -CN, -SO3H.

23. What is the general method to prepare haloalkanes from alcohols?

    Alcohols react with HX, PCl3, PCl5, SOCl2 (thionyl chloride gives best yields with SO2 and HCl as gaseous by-products), or red P with halogens. Order of reactivity of alcohols: 3° > 2° > 1°.

24. Distinguish SN1 and SN2 mechanisms.

    SN1: two steps, carbocation intermediate, first-order kinetics, racemisation, favoured by 3° halides and polar protic solvents. SN2: one step, transition state, second-order kinetics, inversion (Walden), favoured by 1° halides and polar aprotic solvents.

25. Why are haloarenes less reactive than haloalkanes toward nucleophilic substitution?

    Due to resonance giving partial double-bond character to the C-X bond, sp2 hybridisation of carbon (shorter, stronger bond), and instability of the phenyl cation. Aryl halides resist SN1 and SN2.

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