Nitrogen compounds: past paper questions

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Secondary amine M can be made by the three-step synthesis shown in Figure 8.1. Write an equation for the reaction of ${\text{CH}}_3\text{COOH}$ with ${\text{SOCl}}_2$ in step 1.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured12 marksHas a diagram

  State the relative acidities of bromoethanoic acid, ${\text{BrCH}}_2\text{COOH}$, chloroethanoic acid, ${\text{ClCH}}_2\text{COOH}$, ethanoic acid, ${\text{CH}}_3\text{COOH}$ and ethanol, ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}$.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured15 marksHas a diagram

  A reaction scheme is shown in Fig. 7.1. The reagents needed for reaction 2 and reaction 3 are stated. Reaction 5 takes place when ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{H}}_2$ is mixed with compound $\mathbf{V}$.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Sunset Yellow is an additive used for colouring foods. A synthetic route for making Sunset Yellow is shown. Molecules $\mathbf{E}$ and $\mathbf{G}$ each contain one $-\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_3^{-}$ group.

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 41Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  An amino acid is a compound that has both an amine group and a carboxyl group. The structures of three amino acids, P, Q and R, are shown in Figure 9.1.

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Explain why amides are much weaker bases than amines.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured7 marks

  An aqueous solution of phenol, ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$, is acidic at $298\mathrm{K}$. Explain why phenol is more acidic than water.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  Capsaicin is found in chilli peppers. You should assume the $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{O}$ group is unreactive in the reactions involved in this question. Name all the functional groups in capsaicin in addition to the $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{O}$ group.

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• Question 7May/June 2026, paper 42Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Alanine, ${\text{CH}}_3\text{CH}({\text{NH}}_2)\text{COOH}$, is an amino acid that contains a chiral centre. Different synthetic routes to produce alanine can lead to the formation of an optically active sample or a racemic mixture. Describe what is meant by optically active.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured16 marks

  Asparagine and aspartic acid are two naturally occurring amino acids. Their structures and isoelectric points are shown in Table 8.1.

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• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Structured12 marksHas a diagram

  The amino acid serine, ${\text{HOCH}}_2\text{CH}({\text{NH}}_2)\text{COOH}$, exists in two optically active forms. These optical isomers, isomer P and isomer Q, are shown in Fig. 8.1.

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  State the reactants and conditions for two different types of reactions that both produce diethylamine, $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{N}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3$.

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Compound P and compound Q are isomers. State the relative basicities of P, Q and ammonia.

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• Question 9May/June 2025, paper 41Structured10 marks

  Phenylamine, ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_2$, and propylamine, $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_2$, can be produced by different reduction reactions. Identify an organic compound that can be converted into ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_2$ by a reduction reaction.

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• Question 8May/June 2024, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Neotame is an artificial sweetener added to some foods. Fig. 8.1 State the number of chiral carbon atoms in a molecule of neotame.

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• Question 2May/June 2023, paper 41Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Some transition element complexes can show stereoisomerism.

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• Question 7May/June 2025, paper 42Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  2-aminobutane, $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{C}\mathrm{H}(\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_2)\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3$, exists as a mixture of two enantiomers. Define enantiomers.

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• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Methyl red can be synthesised as shown in Fig. 7.1. Give the systematic name of $\mathbf{P}$.

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• Question 7May/June 2023, paper 41Structured18 marksHas a diagram

  State the relative basicities of ethanamide, diethylamine and ethylamine in aqueous solution.

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• Question 9May/June 2025, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  The structures of the amino acids serine and lysine are shown in Fig. 9.1. Draw the structure for the dipeptide, ser–lys, with molecular formula ${\mathrm{C}}_9{\mathrm{H}}_{19}{\mathrm{N}}_3{\mathrm{O}}_4$.

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• Question 8May/June 2024, paper 42Structured16 marksHas a diagram

  State the relative basicities of phenylamine, ${\text{C}}_6{\text{H}}_5{\text{NH}}_2$, benzylamine, ${\text{C}}_6{\text{H}}_5{\text{CH}}_2{\text{NH}}_2$, and ammonia, ${\text{NH}}_3$, in aqueous solution.

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• Question 6May/June 2023, paper 42Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Perindopril is a drug used to treat heart disease. State the number of chiral carbon atoms present in one molecule of perindopril.

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• Question 8May/June 2024, paper 43Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Neotame is an artificial sweetener added to some foods. State the number of chiral carbon atoms in a molecule of neotame.

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