Nitrogen compounds: past paper questions

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• Question 30May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A sample of 1-bromopropane, ${\text{C}}_3{\text{H}}_7\text{Br}$, of mass $36.9\text{ g}$ is heated with an excess of $\text{KCN}$ in ethanol. The reaction gives a $78.0\mathrm{\%}$ yield of the desired organic product. Which row is correct?

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• Question 34Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Three mixtures are heated under reflux. Which mixtures will produce sodium propanoate as one product?

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  When X is added to $\text{NaOH}(\text{aq})$ and heated under reflux, pentan-2-ol is made. Which organic product is made when X is heated with a solution of KCN dissolved in ethanol?

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• Question 37Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Ethanal, ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{O}$, undergoes an addition reaction with $\mathrm{H}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{N}$ in the presence of ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{N}}^{-}$ ions. Which row identifies the type of reaction and the name of the product formed?

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• Question 36May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Ethanenitrile is heated with an excess of sodium hydroxide until the reaction is complete, giving organic compound X. Which row is correct?

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• Question 36Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Compound Q reacts when heated with $\text{HCN}$ in the presence of a catalyst to produce compound R. Molecules of compound R each contain four carbon atoms. What is compound Q?

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  $({\text{CH}}_3{)}_3\text{CCN}$ reacts to form alcohol Y via the reaction sequence shown.

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Propanoic acid can be made from bromoethane using a two-stage synthesis. Which pair of reagents is most suitable?

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• Question 37May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  2-methyl-1-bromopropane is reacted with a reagent under certain conditions to form primary amine Z. The reaction produces $4.50\text{ g}$ of Z with a $56.0\mathrm{\%}$ yield. [$A_{\text{r}}$: C, 12.0; H, 1.0; Br, 79.9; N, 14.0] Which row is correct?

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which reaction mixture produces a nitrile?

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  X and Y are the reagents required to convert 1-bromopropane into butanoic acid.

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• Question 38Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Butylamine can be produced by the reaction of butanenitrile with hydrogen in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Which volume of hydrogen, measured at room conditions, is required to react completely with $0.500\text{ g}$ of butanenitrile?

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• Question 38May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which reaction will form propanoic acid?

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• Question 35May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Methylbut-2-ene reacts with $\mathrm{H}\mathrm{B}\mathrm{r}$ at room temperature to produce compound X as a major product. Compound X reacts with $\mathrm{K}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{N}$ in ethanol to produce compound Y. Compound Y is hydrolysed with acid to produce compound Z. What is compound Z?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Propanone, ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{COCH}}_3$, is an important organic reagent. Fig. 4.1 shows some reactions of propanone and its derivatives. Reaction 1 is a nucleophilic addition reaction.

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• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 describes a sequence of reactions that can be used to produce a food additive, compound $\mathbf{Y}$, from ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}$.

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• Question 34May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Compound W contains atoms of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen. Compound W reacts with $\text{HCl}(\text{aq})$ to produce propanoic acid. Which row is correct?

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• Question 36May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The product of the reaction between propanone and hydrogen cyanide is hydrolysed under acidic conditions. What is the formula of the final product?

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• Question 28May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row gives pentanenitrile as one product?

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• Question 37May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which pair of reagents reacts to form a product with a chiral carbon atom?

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• Question 26May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  $0.200\text{mol}$ ethanenitrile reacts with an excess of dilute sodium hydroxide. The reaction produces organic compound S and ammonia gas only. The reaction has an $80.0\mathrm{\%}$ yield.

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• Question 31May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Chloroethane can be used to make sodium propanoate. $$\text{chloroethane}\to \text{intermediate Q}\to \text{sodium propanoate}$$ Intermediate Q is hydrolysed with boiling aqueous $\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$ to give sodium propanoate.

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• Question 34May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The reaction shown can be used to lengthen a carbon chain. $${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_2\text{Br}+{\text{CN}}^{-}\to {\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_2\text{CN}+{\text{Br}}^{-}$$ Which row shows the correct reagent and conditions for this reaction?

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• Question 5May/June 2024, paper 23Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  M reacts to form R by the addition of one reagent, as shown in Fig. 5.1. Fig. 5.1 Identify the reagent and conditions for this reaction.

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 22Structured13 marks

  Propanoic acid, ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH}$, reacts with reducing agent $\mathbf{Q}$ to produce propan-1-ol, ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}$. Suggest the formula of reducing agent $\mathbf{Q}$.

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