NEW AQA GCSE (2016) Chemistry - Cracking hydrocarbons

This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Chemistry GCSE, particularly the ‘Organic Chemistry’ SoW.

Firstly, students asked to think about a question that oil companies face - what to do with longer chain hydrocarbons which are in less demand than smaller chain hydrcarbons? Pupils can share their ideas in pairs, then as a class, before being introduced to the process of cracking.

Next, as a recap of the structure of alkanes pupils will need to use ‘Molymod’ kits to make the first four alkanes in the homologous series, they will also need to complete a table to identify the structural & displayed formulae for each. This work can be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.

Now pupils are introduced to the process and products of cracking, students will then be given a set of hydrocarbons which are being ‘cracked’ with one of the products identified, they will need to identify the other product and also determine if it would be an alkane or an alkene. Once complete, this work can be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.

The next part of the lesson focuses on the structure and properties of alkenes, students will firstly be given a set of facts about alkenes which they can take notes from. Next, students will watch a video about alkenes, they will be provided with a set of questions that they need to answer using this video. This work can be self-assessed using the answers provided. Using what they have learned in this video, the teacher will conduct a demonstration which tests four unknown substances with bromine water - pupils will need to record their results in a table and determine whether the unknown substances are alkenes or alkanes.

Pupils will lastly complete a ‘Quick Check’ task, this is a set of questions which will summarise what pupils have learned during the lesson. They will be able to peer or self-assess their work using the answers provided.

The plenary task is for pupils to sum up what they have learned this lesson in three sentences, using the list of key words provided.

All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)