Isomerism and Naming Organic Compounds — Interactive Lesson (Ages 15–18)

Same atoms, different arrangement — and one set of rules to give every compound a clear name. This 20-slide interactive lesson on structural isomers takes pupils from first ideas to exam-style explanations, with 12 self-marking activities and nothing to prepare beforehand.

Teaching Isomerism and Naming Organic Compounds in GCSE extension and A-level Chemistry

Pupils define structural isomers, identify isomers from condensed formulae and name branched alkanes using IUPAC rules: longest chain, branch names and lowest position numbers. They work through the three isomers of C₅H₁₂, explain why branching lowers boiling point and name position isomers such as but-2-ene and propan-2-ol.

What Pupils Will Learn

• Define structural isomers.
• Identify isomers from condensed formulae.
• Name branched alkanes using IUPAC rules.
• Use position numbers to name alkenes and alcohols.
• Explain how branching affects boiling point.

What’s Included

• 20-slide interactive lesson
• 12 self-marking activities: multiple-choice questions, true-or-false checks, sorting tasks, drag-and-drop categorising and fill-in-the-gap questions
• Step-by-step teaching cards that reveal one point at a time
• A written explanation task with a model answer for self-assessment

Why Teachers Love It

• No prep — open it on an interactive whiteboard, laptop or tablet
• Instant feedback explains every answer, right or wrong
• Examples from both Nigeria and the UK make the chemistry feel real
• Works for whole-class teaching, independent study or revision

Curriculum Alignment

Supports the organic chemistry content of UK GCSE extension and A-level Chemistry (AQA, Edexcel and OCR) and the Nigerian Senior Secondary Chemistry curriculum (SS2–SS3), including WAEC and NECO exam preparation.

Love this? You’ll love…

• Alkynes and Ethyne — Interactive Lesson (Ages 14–16)
• Benzene and Aromatic Compounds — Interactive Lesson (Ages 15–18)

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FAQ

What year groups is this for? Year 11 and post-16 (ages 15–18), and SS2–SS3 in Nigeria.

Is it self-marking? Yes — all 12 activities give instant feedback.

Do pupils need to log in? No. The lesson runs in any modern web browser.

Can I use it for revision? Yes. Pupils can replay it as often as they like, and the results screen shows which questions to review before a test.