‹ Chemistry simulationsChemistry · AS Level 9701 · 17 Carbonyl compoundsFive simulations covering Topic 17: the carbonyl group in 3D with its pi bond and its dipole, the oxidation ladder from alcohol to aldehyde to acid and back down with sodium borohydride, the nucleophilic addition of hydrogen cyanide stepped through in 3D, the four bench tests that tell aldehydes from ketones, and an unknown to identify from its test results.
A carbon double bonded to an oxygen. The carbon is trigonal planar, the pi bond sits above and below that plane, and because oxygen is far more electronegative the carbon is left short of electrons. Everything these compounds do follows from that. Rotate each one and switch the pi cloud on.
Alcohol, aldehyde, carboxylic acid: three rungs that acidified dichromate climbs and sodium borohydride comes back down. A secondary alcohol and a ketone sit on their own short ladder with no rung above. Click a rung or use the reagent buttons.
The carbonyl carbon is slightly positive and it is flat, so a nucleophile can reach it from either side. The cyanide ion attacks, the pi electrons move onto the oxygen, and the negative oxygen then takes a proton. The chain grows by one carbon and, very often, the product is chiral. Step through it.
Four reagents, each answering a different question. One shows that a carbonyl group is present at all, two of them pick out the aldehydes, and the last one finds a methyl group next to the carbonyl. Choose a compound and run the tests.
A bottle with the label missing. You are told the molecular formula and you may run any of the tests. Work out which of the candidates it is, then check your answer. Press for a new sample when you are done.
The trigonal planar carbonyl group in 3D with its pi bond and the dipole that leaves the carbon open to attack, the oxidation ladder that links alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids with the reagents for each step, the nucleophilic addition of hydrogen cyanide animated through the transition to a tetrahedral carbon and a chiral product, the 2,4-DNPH, Tollens, Fehling and tri-iodomethane tests run side by side at the bench, and an unknown compound to identify from its formula and its test results.
Five simulations covering Topic 17: the carbonyl group in 3D with its pi bond and its dipole, the oxidation ladder from alcohol to aldehyde to acid and back down with sodium borohydride, the nucleophilic addition of hydrogen cyanide stepped through in 3D, the four bench tests that tell aldehydes from ketones, and an unknown to identify from its test results.
Carbonyl compounds is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry 9701 (topic 17 Carbonyl compounds). The course is assessed in Paper 1 (Multiple Choice (AS)), Paper 2 (AS Structured), Paper 3 (Advanced Practical), Paper 4 (A Level Structured), Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis, Evaluation). Syllabus for examination in 2025-2027. There are 5 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.
Full syllabus map: AS Level Chemistry 9701 topic 17.
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