Esters: past paper questions

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• Question 35May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which reaction has ethanoic acid as one of the products?

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The reversible reaction between methanol and ethanoic acid liquids is catalysed by adding a small volume of concentrated sulfuric acid. Two statements about this reaction are listed. 1 The sulfuric acid is a homogeneous catalyst.

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• Question 26Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Compound Z has the molecular formula ${\text{C}}_4{\text{H}}_8{\text{O}}_2$. Compound Z reacts with propan-1-ol in the presence of concentrated ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$.

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The structure of compound X is shown. What is produced when X is heated with $\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}(\mathrm{a}\mathrm{q})$?

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• Question 35May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Compound Z has the structural formula ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CO}}_2{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CO}}_2\text{H}$. What is produced when compound Z is heated for 30 minutes with an excess of aqueous sodium hydroxide?

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• Question 35Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which compound is a product of the hydrolysis of ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CO}}_2{\text{CH}}_2{\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5$ using aqueous sodium hydroxide?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3$ is reacted with aqueous acid. The products from this reaction are reacted with ${\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{H}}_4$ to form two molecules Y and Z. What are the identities of molecules Y and Z?

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  How many esters with the molecular formula ${\text{C}}_5{\text{H}}_{10}{\text{O}}_2$ can be made by reacting a primary alcohol with a carboxylic acid?

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• Question 36May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which pair of substances could react to give the ester ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CO}}_2{\text{CH}}_3$?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows the reagents and products of three reactions.

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{C}(\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3){\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_2{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3$ is correct?

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• Question 39Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows an ester. It is heated under reflux with an excess of $\text{NaOH(aq)}$. Which row shows the 2 products of the reaction?

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• Question 29May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which formula represents the organic compound formed by the reaction of propanoic acid with methanol in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid as a catalyst?

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• Question 38May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Compound X is treated with an excess of dilute aqueous potassium hydroxide. What is the structure of the organic product?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Barium hydroxide, $\mathrm{B}\mathrm{a}(\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}{)}_2$, is a strong base used in inorganic and organic reactions. Fig. 2.1 shows a reaction scheme involving $\mathrm{B}\mathrm{a}(\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}{)}_2$. State the variation in solubilities of group 2 hydroxides.

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• Question 29May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An ester, ${\mathrm{R}}^{\mathrm{\prime }}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_2{\mathrm{R}}^{\mathrm{\prime }\mathrm{\prime }}$, is hydrolysed in alkaline conditions. ${\mathrm{R}}^{\mathrm{\prime }}$ and ${\mathrm{R}}^{\mathrm{\prime }\mathrm{\prime }}$ are different alkyl groups. Which row identifies the two products formed?

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• Question 38May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagrams show the structures of two esters, X and Y, that are formed in ripening apples.

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• Question 37May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which ester may be hydrolysed to produce two products, one of which may be reduced to the other?

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• Question 34May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Propanoic acid reacts with $\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{l}{\mathrm{H}}_4$ to give organic product P. Methanoic acid reacts with organic product P, in the presence of a few drops of concentrated sulfuric acid, to give organic product Q. What are the skeletal formulae of the two organic products?

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• Question 33May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The $M_{\text{r}}$ of compound X is 88. Compound X is heated under reflux with an excess of acidified potassium dichromate(VI) to produce compound Y. Compound Y reacts with compound X under suitable conditions to produce compound Z. The $M_{\text{r}}$ of compound Z is 172.

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• Question 38May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two compounds, X and Y, are mixed and a little concentrated ${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_4$ is added. Ester Z is found in the resulting mixture of products.

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• Question 28May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four organic compounds are shown.

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• Question 39May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Lactide is an intermediate in the manufacture of a synthetic fibre. Which compound, on heating with an acid catalyst, can produce lactide?

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• Question 36May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Compound Q can be hydrolysed by $\mathrm{H}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}(\mathrm{a}\mathrm{q})$. The two products of this hydrolysis have the same empirical formula. What could Q be?

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• Question 37May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An unsaturated carboxylic acid reacts with alcohol X to form an ester. The structure of the ester is shown. Which geometrical isomer is shown in this ester and to which class of alcohol does X belong?

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• Question 5May/June 2023, paper 21Structured15 marksHas a diagram

  Molecule $\mathbf{M}$ is present in petrol, a fuel used in cars. $\mathbf{M}$ is a saturated, non-cyclic hydrocarbon. $\mathbf{M}$ contains eight carbon atoms.

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