TCE Chemistry — Level 4
Functional Groups — Flashcards & Quiz
Functional groups are the reactive sites of organic molecules, and TCE Chemistry Level 4 tests your ability to identify groups in a structure, predict reactivity, and apply IUPAC nomenclature. Recognising the hierarchy of functional groups (carboxylic acid > ester > amide > aldehyde > ketone > alcohol > amine) is essential for naming and reaction prediction.
Key Points
- Alcohols (–OH): polar, form hydrogen bonds, oxidise to aldehydes/carboxylic acids (primary) or ketones (secondary).
- Aldehydes (–CHO): the C=O is at the end of a chain. Reduce to 1° alcohols; oxidise to carboxylic acids.
- Ketones (–C(=O)–): the C=O is in the middle of a chain. Reduce to 2° alcohols; resist oxidation.
- Carboxylic acids (–COOH): acidic (donate H⁺); react with alcohols to form esters (Fischer esterification).
- Esters (–C(=O)O–): sweet-smelling; hydrolyse back to acid + alcohol (acidic) or to carboxylate salt + alcohol (saponification, basic).
- Amines (–NH₂): basic (accept H⁺); react with carboxylic acids to form amides (the basis of peptide bonds).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing aldehydes (C=O at end of chain) with ketones (C=O in middle).
- Forgetting that tertiary alcohols resist oxidation — no H on the –OH carbon.
- Claiming all alcohols oxidise to the same product — primary to aldehyde/acid, secondary to ketone.
- Mixing up IUPAC priority: carboxylic acid > ester > amide > aldehyde > ketone > alcohol > amine.
- Drawing ester linkages backwards — the O in the ester comes from the alcohol, not the acid.
Exam Strategy
TASC Level 4 functional group questions ask you to identify groups, predict reactions, or name structures. Method: (1) identify all functional groups present, (2) assign the highest priority as the principal group for naming, (3) predict reactivity based on group characteristics, (4) write balanced equations for any reactions.
Sample Flashcards
Q1: What is a functional group?
A specific atom or group that determines chemical properties. Same functional group = similar reactions regardless of chain length.
Sample Quiz Questions
Q1: −OH defines carboxylic acids.
Answer: FALSE
−OH defines alcohols. −COOH defines carboxylic acids.
Revision Tip
Functional group identification is recognition-based — drill a Revizi flashcard deck with structures on one side and group names on the other, alternating directions.
Last updated: March 2026 · 1 flashcards · 1 quiz questions