‹ Chemistry simulationsChemistry · A Level 9701 · 29 Organic chemistry (A Level introduction)Five simulations covering Topic 29: a 3D gallery of the eight functional groups you meet at A Level, a benzene ring where you place two substituents and the compound is named with its locants, benzene in 3D as the Kekulé structure and as a delocalised ring with its p orbitals merging into a doughnut, a chiral centre beside its mirror image that you try to superimpose, and a card drill that sorts reactions into electrophilic substitution, addition-elimination, hydrolysis, reduction and oxidation.
At A Level the list of functional groups grows. Each one is a small cluster of atoms that decides how the molecule behaves, so spotting it is the first step in every question. Pick a group and it is picked out in gold on a small example molecule.
When a benzene ring carries two groups, the name must say where they are. Number the ring from one substituent: the other sits at position 2 (next door, ortho), 3 (meta) or 4 (opposite, para). Choose a substituent, click the ring, and the sim names what you built.
Kekulé drew benzene with three C=C bonds and three C-C bonds. Measurements say otherwise: all six bonds are the same length and the ring does not behave like an alkene. Switch to the delocalised model and merge the six p orbitals into a doughnut of electron density above and below the ring.
A carbon bonded to four different groups can be built in two ways that are mirror images and cannot be turned into each other. Those two forms are enantiomers. Pick a molecule, then try to lay the mirror image on top of the original. Finally swap one group so two of them match and watch the handedness vanish.
Most exam marks for a reaction mechanism come from naming the type correctly. Each card shows an equation and its conditions. Decide which of the five types it is; the sim tells you what gave it away.
Five interactive simulations for Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701 topic 29 Organic chemistry: eight A Level functional groups highlighted on small 3D molecules, a benzene ring where two substituents are placed and the compound named with 1,2- 1,3- or 1,4- locants, benzene in 3D as the Kekulé structure and as six overlapping p orbitals forming a delocalised ring with the 0.139 nm bond length and the hydrogenation enthalpy of -208 against -360 kJ per mole, a chiral centre and its mirror image that cannot be superimposed, and a reaction-type sorter for electrophilic substitution, nucleophilic addition-elimination, hydrolysis, reduction and oxidation.
Five simulations covering Topic 29: a 3D gallery of the eight functional groups you meet at A Level, a benzene ring where you place two substituents and the compound is named with its locants, benzene in 3D as the Kekulé structure and as a delocalised ring with its p orbitals merging into a doughnut, a chiral centre beside its mirror image that you try to superimpose, and a card drill that sorts reactions into electrophilic substitution, addition-elimination, hydrolysis, reduction and oxidation.
Organic chemistry (A Level introduction) is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry 9701 (topic 29 An introduction to A Level organic chemistry). 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: A Level Chemistry 9701 topic 29.
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