 No Brain Too Small 
Amine RNH2

Salt e.g. RNH3Cl
carboxylic acid

potassium salt of
the carboxylic
acid
carboxylic acid

sodium salt of the
carboxylic acid +
CO2 gas
carboxylic acid

sodium salt of the
carboxylic acid
HCl
KOH
Na2CO3 or
NaHCO3
NaOH
acid-base
acid-base
alkene

dibromoalkane
alkene

chloroalkane
Br2
HCl
acid-base
alkene

alcohol
H2O/H+
addition
addition
addition /
hydration
alkene

alkane
monomer nC2H4

polymer
-(C2H4)-n
alcohol R-OH

alkene
H2, Ni cat., heat
Heat, catalyst
conc. H2SO4, heat
addition
(hydrogenation)
addition
(polymerisation)
acid-base
alkene

dichloroalkane
Cl2
addition
haloalkane R-Cl

alkene
KOH (alc)
elimination /
dehydration
elimination
primary alcohol

carboxylic acid
primary alcohol

carboxylic acid
alkene

diol
H+/MnO4-, heat
H+/Cr2O72-, heat
H+/MnO4-
oxidation
oxidation
oxidation
 No Brain Too Small 
haloalkane R-Cl

alcohol R-OH
alkane

chloroalkane
haloalkane

amine
alcohol

haloalkane
KOH (aq)
Cl2, uv light &/or
heat
conc. NH3(alc)
PCl3 or PCl5 or
SOCl2
substitution
substitution
addition of
Removal of H2O
unsymmetrical
from an
reagent e.g. HCl to
asymmetric
asymmetric alkene alcohol e.g. butane.g. to but-1-ene
2-ol
substitution
substitution
Removal of HX
from an
asymmetric
haloalkane e.g. 2chlorobutane
Distinguish
between a 1o
alcohol &
carboxylic acid
Heat with
H+/MnO4-
2 alkene products
(major/minor)
“poor get poorer”
purple MnO4- converted
to colourless Mn2+ by
alcohol, with carboxylic
acid no change
Distinguish
between alkene &
a primary alcohol
Distinguish
between a 1o
alcohol &
carboxylic acid
Heat with
H+/Cr2O72-
2 products
(major/minor)
“rich get richer”
2 alkene products
(major/minor)
“poor get poorer”
Distinguish
between
carboxylic acid &
amine
Distinguish
between alkene &
a primary alcohol
Use UI / litmus
Add Br2
Heat with
H+/Cr2O72-
carboxylic acid turns UI
orange or litmus red,
with amine turns blue
Br2 decolourised (orange
to colourless) by alkene,
not by alcohol
alcohol reduces orange
Cr2O72- to green Cr3+,
with alkene no change
Distinguish
between alkane &
alkene
Distinguish
between alkane &
alkene
Use Br2
Use H+/MnO4- (no
heat needed)
Br2 decolourised rapidly
(orange to colourless) by
alkene, alkane much
slower, needs uv light
purple MnO4- converted
to colourless Mn2+ by
alkene, no change with
the alkane
C5 =
C6 =
C7 =
C8 =
PentHexHeptOct-
Just know your
maths shapes
orange Cr2O72- converted
to green Cr3+ by alcohol,
with carboxylic acid no
change
C1 = MethC2 = EthC3 = PropC4 = But-
must eat peanut
butter 