Sec Sch Chapter 21 Organic Chemistry
In the nineteenth century, chemists believed that all organic chemicals originated in tissues of living organisms. Friedrich Wohler, in 1828, challenged this belief and synthesized the organic compound urea, a compound found in urine, under laboratory conditions. His work led other chemists to attempt the synthesis of other organic compounds. In this section, students examine the sources of fuels, some basic concepts of organic chemistry such as homologous series, functional group, general formula and structural formula, and polymers. Students should be able to identify and name unbranched alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids. They should recognise that materials such as plastics, detergents and medicines, and even the food that we eat are examples of organic compounds. Students should be able to value the need for assessing the impacts of the use of synthetic materials and the environmental issues related to the use of plastics. With such requirements put on students, most students will regard the organic chemistry chapters the most difficult chapters in the entire syllabus. Many students tend to struggle even at the introduction of the chapter and will continue struggling with the chapter as it constantly introduces new key terms, ideas and catalysts. Which is where this course comes in. The course is designed to allow students to effectively and easily understand and comprehend what is being taught in the classroom and in time, master a chapter which their peers will still be struggling in.
