📄Handouts → ⚗️Reaction Scheme Template
Senior Chemistry PĹŤtaiao / Science

Chemistry • Senior secondary • Reaction mapping

Organic Chemistry Reaction Scheme Template

Build a reaction map that shows what changes, what is used, and what evidence supports the identification. This is a thinking scaffold, not an official assessment schedule.

Use it for

Organic conversion maps, revision, reaction-family comparisons and explaining why a product is plausible.

Every arrow needs

Reagent, relevant conditions, reaction type, structural change and—where applicable—observable evidence.

Every structure needs

A clear displayed or condensed formula, correct functional group and a name if naming is part of the task.

Assessment truth

Use your kaiako’s current verified standard/specification for assessment-specific reagents, conditions and evidence requirements.

Safety and source boundary

This sheet does not provide laboratory preparation instructions, concentrations or volumes. If a reaction is performed practically, use the school’s approved method, SDS information, PPE and kaiako supervision. A reaction scheme can be completed from supplied evidence without carrying out the reaction.

1. Single-step reaction record

Starting organic compound

Functional group:

Reagent(s)
Condition(s)
Reaction type
Organic product

Functional group:

What changed in the molecule?

What observation or other evidence would support this change?

2. Four-step synthesis planner

Start from the target. Work backwards if that makes the route easier to see. Each arrow must be chemically justified.

A — start

Functional group:

Step A → B

Reagent:

Condition:

Type:

B

Functional group:

Step B → C

Reagent:

Condition:

Type:

C

Functional group:

Step C → D

Reagent:

Condition:

Type:

D — target

Functional group:

Route check

Atoms conserved?

Carbon skeleton explained?

Evidence check

Which step could be distinguished experimentally?

3. Reaction-family checkpoints

QuestionYour evidence
Which bond or functional group changes?
Is carbon added, removed, or unchanged?
Is the reaction addition, substitution, elimination, oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, esterification, or another taught class?
What feature of the product proves your chosen class is sensible?
What alternative product or pathway must you rule out?

4. One worked reasoning example

Prompt: A reaction converts an alkene into an alcohol without changing the number of carbon atoms.

  1. Structural change: the carbon–carbon double bond is replaced by a single-bonded structure containing an –OH functional group.
  2. Reaction family: addition/hydration is a plausible classification because atoms are added across the double bond rather than the carbon skeleton being shortened.
  3. What this template does not invent: write the reagent and conditions from the verified source your course is using; do not fill them from a remembered assessment schedule.

Your diagram:

5. Final self-check