Dated 15 Oct 2004

Notes are copyrighted. Author : Mr Anthony Tang, Bowen Secondary School

CHEMISTRY SUMMARY NOTES FOR ‘O’ LEVEL

TOPIC MNEMONICS REMARKS (Need to know about)

Experimental NIL - Separate insoluble substances from soluble
Techniques substances.
[i.e. Dissolution Filtration Saturation
(Evaporation)/ Crystallisation]

- Chromatography : separating soluble solutes using

a suitable solvent (e.g different coloured inks)

Elements, Mixtures NIL - Definition of element, mixture and compounds.

& Compounds - 3 differences between mixtures and compounds

Chemical Formula Cations Anions - Memorise charges of elements that cannot be found
H+ SO42- using the Periodic Table.
Cu2+ SO32- - Crossing of numbers to get the correct formula.
Fe2+, Fe3+ NO32-
Zn2+ OH-
Structure of atoms NIL - Charge of protons (+), electrons (-) and neutrons (0)
- Electrons in shells while protons and neutrons in
nucleus
- Protons = electrons for a neutral atom
(i.e all elements in the Periodic Table)
- When protons ≠ electrons, atoms are charged.
(that explains why electrons lost or gained)

*Chemical bonding Metal + Non-metal Ionic - Definition of ionic and covalent compounds
Non-metal + Non-metal Covalent - Draw electronic structure of ionic and covalent
compounds.
3 differences between Ionic/ covalent compounds [Ionic – transfer of electrons, strong electrostatic forces
1) Solubility in water / organic solvents of attraction between oppositely charged ions]
2) Electrical conductivity when molten or aqueous [Covalent – sharing of electrons, weak intermolecular
3) Melting pt / Boiling pt forces of attraction]

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Dated 15 Oct 2004
Notes are copyrighted. Author : Mr Anthony Tang, Bowen Secondary School
TOPIC MNEMONICS REMARKS
*Mole Concept FOUR-BOX RULE Name of substance Name of substance
Para 2 Para 1
STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD
Mass : Ar/ Mr TO BE FOUND TO BE FOUND
Volume : 24 dm3 at r.t.p
Mole : 1 Para 2 Para 1
No. of particles : 6.0 X 1023 atoms/ molecules
GIVEN DATA ANSWERS

Energy changes Bonds formed, heat released. (Exothermic) Exothermic :

Heat absorbed, bonds broken. (Endothermic) Heat released, temperature increase

Endothermic :
Heat absorbed, temperature decrease.

Rates of reaction Factors affecting rates of reaction

Surface Area to Volume Ratio Gradient of curve affected by SPCCT
Pressure
Concentration Height of graph affected by amount and
Catalyst volume of substances.
Temperature

*Acids, bases and General way to identify chemicals through chemical formulae Chemical formulae you must KNOW
salts Acids : H in front HCl - hydrochloric acid
Bases : OH or O behind H2SO4 - sulphuric acid
Salts : Neither an acid or base HNO3 - nitric acid

*Chemical properties of acids NaOH - sodium hydroxide

Acid + Base Salt + Water KOH - potassium hydroxide
Acid + Metal Salt + Hydrogen NH3 , NH4OH - aqueous ammonia,
Acid + Carbonate Salt + Carbon Dioxide + Water ammonium hydroxide

*Chemical properties of bases

Base + Ammonium salt Salt + Ammonia + Water

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Dated 15 Oct 2004
Notes are copyrighted. Author : Mr Anthony Tang, Bowen Secondary School

TOPIC MNEMONICS REMARKS

Metals *Reactivity series of metals : In bold – react vigorously with
Please : K (Potassium) Holiday : H (Hydrogen) water/steam and acid
Sue : Na (Sodium) Condo : Cu (Copper) Normal font – moderate to mild with
Can : Ca (Calcium) Must : Hg (Mercury) water/steam and acid
Move : Mg (Magnesium) Sell : Ag (Silver) Italicized – No reaction with water and acid
All : Al (Aluminium) Good : Au (Gold)
Zombies : Zn (Zinc) Price : Pt (Platinum) - Displacement of metals
Into : Fe (Iron) [The more reactive metal (head) ‘kick out’
The : Sn (Tin) the less reactive metal from the ‘gang’]
Loo : Pb (Lead) ‘Kick out’ – Use displace instead.

[Remember properties and uses of metals] [N.B : When displacement of metals

occurs, deposits appear.]
Extraction of metals Ingredients added from the top of the Blast furnace Produce lots of CO2
Coke (C) C + O2 CO2
Iron Ore (Fe2O3) CaCO3 CaO + CO2
Limestone (CaCO3)
Change CO2 to CO
CO2 + C 2CO
Materials from the side of the Blast Furnace
Air (O2) Fe2O3 reduced to CO
Fe2O3 + 3CO 2Fe + 3CO2
(Swing from ‘tree’(3) to(2) ‘tree’(3))

Removal of impurities
CaO + SiO2 CaSiO3 (molten slag)
(Both are impurities)

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Dated 15 Oct 2004
Notes are copyrighted. Author : Mr Anthony Tang, Bowen Secondary School
TOPIC MNEMONICS REMARKS
Metals/ Non – metals NIL Group I Elements
- Reactivity increases as you move down
the group.

Group VII Elements

- Reactivity decreases as you move down
the group.

Remember chemical and physical

properties of Group I and Group VII elements
(i.e displacement reactions, reaction with each
other)

Fractional distillation of - The uses of the different fractions

crude oil Peter Petroleum Gas (consists mostly of methane)
Pan Petrol
Never Naphtha
Kills Kerosene
Dead Diesel Oil
Fat Fuel Oil
Lying Lubricating Oil
Bees Bitumen

Composition of air MUST KNOW THE PERCENTAGES BY HEART - In a reaction involving air, when
combustion takes place, oxygen is used
Nitrogen 79% up.
Oxygen 20% {therefore, about 80% gas left}
Noble gas (mainly Argon) <1%
Carbon dioxide 0.03% - Name pollutants in air and state one
Water vapour Variable harmful effect each.
(SO2, Pb compounds, CO, CFC)

- How is acid rain formed?

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Dated 15 Oct 2004
Notes are copyrighted. Author : Mr Anthony Tang, Bowen Secondary School

TOPIC MNEMONICS REMARKS

Organic Chemistry - Remember general formula of alkanes,
Mummy Met- 1-Carbon alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acid.
Eats Eth- 2-Carbon
Peanut Prop- 3-Carbon Alkanes CnH2n+2
Butter But- 4-Carbon Alkenes CnH2n
Pancake Pent- 5-Carbon Alcohols CnH2n+1 OH
Happily Hex- 6-Carbon Carboxylic acid CnH2n+1 COOH

- *To differentiate alkenes, use bromine

water.
Alkane - Bromine water remains orange-
red.
Alkene - Bromine water decolourised.

Organic Chemistry Making of alcohol - Know the physical and chemical

properties of alkenes and alcohols
Ingredients required
1) Sugar Solution Chemical properties of alkenes
2) Yeast -Reaction with bromine
3) Anaerobic condition (i.e no oxygen) -Reaction with hydrogen
4) Temperature : 30 – 35°C -Reaction with itself
(addition polymerisation)

Alcohol is formed from the reaction between

an alkene and steam.
Catalyst : Phosphoric (V) acid

Chemical properties of alcohol

-Burn in air to form carbon dioxide and
water
-React with carboxylic acid to form ester
and water

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Dated 15 Oct 2004
Notes are copyrighted. Author : Mr Anthony Tang, Bowen Secondary School

TOPIC MNEMONICS REMARKS

Organic Chemistry In addition polymerisation, Chemical properties of carboxylic acid
(Macromolecule) make the molecule into the shape of an H in relation to -React with alcohol to produce ester and
C=C double bond. water.
Once that is done, remove centre line, extend 2 lines
to the sides, bracket followed by subscript n
List 3 uses of plastics.
O O
|| || List 3 advantages and disadvantages of using
-C-O- -C-N- plastics.
|
H
Ester linkage Amide linkage
Synthetic Terylene Nylon

Natural Fats Protein

Nylon : same letters when the box is covered.

N- -N C- -C

Amide : different letters when the box is covered.

C- -N C- -N

TER in TERylene, you are reminded of esTER