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A Level Chemistry 9701, topic 21.1

Organic synthesis: past paper questions

13 Cambridge A Level Chemistry 9701 questions on Organic synthesis (21.1) from 10 papers, 2023 to 2026. Mostly multiple choice. Open the paper or try a question free.

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Questions
13
Papers
10
Years
2023 to 2026
Total marks
34
Average per question
2.6 marks
Largest question
13 marks

By type: Multiple choice 11 · Structured 2

How hard the questions are

  • Recall1
  • Apply2
  • Analyse1
  • Not banded9

Derived from the command word Cambridge prints in each question, banded by a fixed table beside the syllabus's own definitions. A question printing no command word is unbanded: unknown, not middling.

Command words

  • completeApply3 questions
  • identifyRecall2 questions

    name/select/recognise

  • nameRecall2 questions
  • constructApply1 question
  • deduceAnalyse1 question

    conclude from available information

  • describeApply1 question

    state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features

  • drawApply1 question
  • giveRecall1 question

    produce an answer from a given source or recall/memory

  • suggestAnalyse1 question

    apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid responses in order to make proposals / put forward considerations

  • useApply1 question

Where the questions come from

By year

  • 20262
  • 20251
  • 20244
  • 20236

By session

  • May/June10
  • Oct/Nov3

By paper

  • Paper 111
  • Paper 22

Questions on this topic

Showing 12 of 13, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.

  • Question 28May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

    This question is about the conversion of but-2-ene to butanone. What are the correct steps to carry out this conversion?

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

    Propanoic acid, CH3CH2COOH, reacts with reducing agent Q to produce propan-1-ol, CH3CH2CH2OH. Suggest the formula of reducing agent Q.

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  • Question 31May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

    2-bromopropane is converted to 1,2-dibromopropane in a pathway involving two reactions.

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  • Question 32Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple 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 32May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

    Propanoic acid is used to make propene in two steps. What are the reagents for step 1 and step 2?

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  • Question 33May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

    Which reagents could be used to form 2-bromobutane from butan-1-ol?

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  • Question 33Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

    Propanoic acid can be used to make propene by a two-stage synthesis. Which row shows suitable reagents for this synthesis?

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

    Chloroethane can be used to make sodium propanoate. chloroethane→intermediate Q→sodium propanoate Intermediate Q is hydrolysed with boiling aqueous NaOH to give sodium propanoate.

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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 29May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

    The conversion of propan-1-ol into propan-2-ol can be completed in a two-stage synthesis. The first stage is to heat the propan-1-ol with concentrated sulfuric acid. Which reagent would be needed to complete the second stage?

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

    Methylbut-2-ene reacts with HBr at room temperature to produce compound X as a major product. Compound X reacts with KCN 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 38May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

    Which two-step process converts cyclohexanol into cyclohexane-1,2-diol?

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